Formicoidea

E422815

Formicoidea is a superfamily of insects that encompasses all ant species and their closest relatives within the order Hymenoptera.

All labels observed (1)

Label Occurrences
Formicoidea canonical 2

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (46)

Predicate Object
instanceOf insect superfamily
taxon
belongsToClade Aculeata NERFINISHED
Hymenoptera
class Insecta
commonName ants superfamily
contains numerous genera of ants
thousands of described ant species
containsGroup ants
describedBy taxonomic entomology
distribution worldwide in suitable terrestrial habitats via member species
encompasses all ant species
closest relatives of ants within Hymenoptera
hasCharacteristic constriction between mesosoma and gaster (petiole) in member species
eusocial behavior common in member species
metamorphosis with egg larva pupa adult stages in member species
hasEcologicalRole mutualism with plants and other insects by member species
predation on other arthropods by member species
seed dispersal by member species
soil aeration by member species
hasEconomicImpact some member species affect human structures and households
some member species are agricultural pests
some member species are beneficial biological control agents
hasFossilRecord Cretaceous to recent via ant fossils
hasMemberMorphology elbowed antennae in most ants
social caste differentiation in many species
hasNotableMemberGroup army ants (within Formicidae)
fire ants (within Formicidae)
leafcutter ants (within Formicidae)
weaver ants (within Formicidae)
hasTypeTaxon Formicidae
higherClassification Hymenoptera superfamilies
includes Formicidae NERFINISHED
infraorder Aculeata NERFINISHED
isMonophyletic true
kingdom Animalia
lifeHistoryTrait colony-based social organization in most species
order Hymenoptera NERFINISHED
phylum Arthropoda NERFINISHED
relatedTo Apoidea NERFINISHED
Vespoidea NERFINISHED
reproductionMode sexual reproduction via winged reproductives in many species
studiedInField entomology
myrmecology
suborder Apocrita NERFINISHED
taxonRank superfamily

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (2)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Dorylinae parentTaxon Formicoidea
Apoidea relatedTo Formicoidea