Formicinae

E87077

Formicinae is a large and diverse subfamily of ants known for their ability to spray formic acid as a defense mechanism.


Statements (51)
Predicate Object
instanceOf ant subfamily
taxon
class Insecta
containsTaxon Acanthomyops
Acropyga
Anoplolepis
Brachymyrmex
Camponotus
Cataglyphis
Formica
Lasius
Melophorus
Myrmecocystus
Notoncus
Nylanderia
Oecophylla
Paratrechina
Plagiolepis
Polyergus
Proformica
Tapinoma
ecologicalRole omnivorous foragers
seed dispersal
soil aeration
tenders of honeydew-producing Hemiptera
family Formicidae
foundIn arid regions
temperate regions
tropical regions
hasCharacteristic ability to spray formic acid as a defense mechanism
lack of functional sting
presence of an acidopore at tip of gaster
single petiole node between thorax and gaster
well-developed metapleural gland absent or reduced in many genera
hasDefenseMechanism formic acid spray
hasDistribution cosmopolitan
includesBehavior arboreal nesting in some genera
polydomy in some species
slave-making in genus Polyergus
trail-based foraging
weaver ant nest-building in genus Oecophylla
includesMorphology eyes usually well developed
gaster capable of flexion for acid spraying
workers with 12-segmented antennae in many genera
kingdom Animalia
notableSpeciesGroup carpenter ants
honeypot ants
weaver ants
order Hymenoptera
phylum Arthropoda
taxonRank subfamily

Referenced by (2)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Formicidae
containsSubtaxon
Lasius niger
subfamily

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