Subfamily Amblyoponinae Forel, 1893

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Regional Maps

• Amblyoponinae Forel, 1983.

Introduction

Formerly considered a tribe within Ponerinae, the subfamily Amblyoponinae contains 10 genera which are found throughout most of the world, although they are more common in tropical and forested regions. It is represented in Australia by seven genera which are most abundant and diverse in coastal and heavily forested areas, the subfamily being largely absent from the dry interior. Of these five, (Stigmatomma and Prionopelta) are found essentially world-wide, one (Mystrium) is found in Africa and from India to Australia, one (Myopopone) occurs from India to Australia while the last (Onychomyrmex) is restricted to Far North Queensland. Some species can be locally common and regularly encountered while others are rarely seen.

Nests are in soil under rocks or logs or in rotten wood. Colonies are often composed of numerous small nests scattered over a small area. In some cases large central chambers are absent and the colony consists of many small satellite nests containing a few workers together with a small amount of brood (larvae and pupae).

In most genera workers are cryptic predators in soil and leaf litter and are seldom seen foraging on the surface of the ground. Some species show a strong preference for centipedes while others will feed on a range of soft-bodied arthropods. It is common in some groups for workers to bring their larvae to food sources rather than attempt to move especially large prey back to the nest. When disturbed most will move slowly underground or remain motionless.

One genus, Onychomyrmex, differs significantly from others in this subfamily. These uncommon ants have an army-ant life style. They alternate between temporary bivouacs in protected sites on the ground and semi-permanent nests in soil or in rotten logs. Groups of workers forage by forming distinct raiding columns across the surface of the ground and some species are known to be specialist predators on centipedes.

General References

Ward, P.S. & Fisher, B.L. 2016. Tales of dracula ants: the evolutionary history of the ant subfamily Amblyoponinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Systematic Entomology 41(3): 683-693 (molecular phylogeny)

History of changes