# Formicinae

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Not to be confused with the extinct Formicidae subfamily [Formiciinae](/source/Formiciinae).

The **Formicinae** are a [subfamily](/source/Subfamily) within the [Formicidae](/source/Ant) family containing [ants](/source/Ant) of moderate evolutionary development.

Formicines retain some primitive features, such as the presence of [cocoons](/source/Pupa#Cocoon) around [pupae](/source/Pupa), the presence of [ocelli](/source/Ocellus) in workers, and little tendency toward reduction of [palp](/source/Palp) or [antennal](/source/Antenna_(biology)) segmentation in most species, except [subterranean](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/subterranean) groups. Extreme modification of [mandibles](/source/Mandible_(insect_mouthpart)) is rare, except in the genera *[Myrmoteras](/source/Myrmoteras)* and *[Polyergus](/source/Polyergus)*. However, some members show considerable evolutionary advancement in behaviors such as [slave-making](/source/Slave-making_ant) and symbiosis with root-feeding [hemipterans](/source/Hemiptera). Finally, all formicines have very reduced [stings](/source/Sting_(biology)) and enlarged [venom](/source/Venom_(poison)) reservoirs, with the venom gland, specialized (uniquely among ants) for the production of [formic acid](/source/Formic_acid).[citation needed]

All members of the Formicinae "have a one-segmented [petiole](/source/Petiole_(insect_anatomy)) in the form of a vertical scale".[1]

## Identification

Formicine ants have a single node-like or scale-like [petiole](/source/Petiole_(insect_anatomy)) (postpetiole entirely lacking) and the apex of the abdomen has a circular or U-shaped opening (the [acidopore](/source/Acidopore)), usually fringed with hairs. A functional sting is absent, and defense is provided by the ejection of formic acid through the acidopore. If the acidopore is concealed by the pygidium and difficult to discern, then the antennal sockets are located well behind the posterior margin of the [clypeus](/source/Clypeus_(arthropod_anatomy)) (cf. [Dolichoderinae](/source/Dolichoderinae)). In most formicines, the eyes are well developed (ocelli may also be present), the antennal insertions are not concealed by the frontal carinae, and the promesonotal suture is present and flexible.[2]

## Tribes and genera

The [tribal](/source/Tribe_(biology)) structure of the Formicinae is not completely understood. This list follows the scheme at AntCat,[3] but other schemes and names are used.

- [Camponotini](/source/Camponotini) Forel, 1878 - *[Calomyrmex](/source/Calomyrmex)* Emery, 1895 - *[Camponotus](/source/Camponotus)* Mayr, 1861 - †*[Chimaeromyrma](/source/Chimaeromyrma)* Dlussky, 1988 - *[Colobopsis](/source/Colobopsis)* Mayr, 1861 - *[Dinomyrmex](/source/Dinomyrmex)* Ashmead, 1905 - *[Echinopla](/source/Echinopla)* Smith, 1857 - †*[Eocamponotus](/source/Eocamponotus)* Boudinot, 2024 - *[Lathidris](/source/Lathidris)* Ward et al, 2025 - *[Opisthopsis](/source/Opisthopsis)* Dalla Torre, 1893 - *[Overbeckia](/source/Overbeckia)* Viehmeyer, 1916 - *[Polyrhachis](/source/Polyrhachis)* Smith, 1857 - *[Retalimyrma](/source/Retalimyrma)* Ward et al, 2025 - *[Uwari](/source/Uwari)* Ward et al, 2025
- [Formicini](/source/Formicini) Latreille, 1809 - *[Alloformica](/source/Alloformica)* Dlussky, 1969 - †*[Asymphylomyrmex](/source/Asymphylomyrmex)* Wheeler, 1915 - *[Bajcaridris](/source/Bajcaridris)* Agosti, 1994 - *[Cataglyphis](/source/Cataglyphis)* Foerster, 1850 - †*[Cataglyphoides](/source/Cataglyphoides)* Dlussky, 2008 - †*[Conoformica](/source/Conoformica)* Dlussky, 2008 - *[Formica](/source/Formica)* Linnaeus, 1758 - †*[Glaphyromyrmex](/source/Glaphyromyrmex)* Wheeler, 1915 - *[Iberoformica](/source/Iberoformica)* Tinaut, 1990 - *[Polyergus](/source/Polyergus)* Latreille, 1804 - *[Proformica](/source/Proformica)* Ruzsky, 1902 - †*[Protoformica](/source/Protoformica)* Dlussky, 1967 - *[Rossomyrmex](/source/Rossomyrmex)* Arnol'di, 1928
- [Gesomyrmecini](/source/Gesomyrmecini) Ashmead, 1905 - *[Gesomyrmex](/source/Gesomyrmex)* Mayr, 1868 - †*[Prodimorphomyrmex](/source/Prodimorphomyrmex)* Wheeler, 1915 - †*[Sicilomyrmex](/source/Sicilomyrmex)* Wheeler, 1915
- [Gigantiopini](/source/Gigantiopini) Ashmead, 1905 - *[Gigantiops](/source/Gigantiops)* Roger, 1863
- [Lasiini](/source/Lasiini) Ashmead, 1905 - *[Cladomyrma](/source/Cladomyrma)* Wheeler, 1920 - *[Euprenolepis](/source/Euprenolepis)* Emery, 1906 - *[Lasius](/source/Lasius)* Fabricius, 1804 - *[Metalasius](/source/Metalasius)* Boudinot et al., 2022 - *[Myrmecocystus](/source/Myrmecocystus)* Wesmael, 1838 - *[Nylanderia](/source/Nylanderia)* Emery, 1906 - *[Paraparatrechina](/source/Paraparatrechina)* Donisthorpe, 1947 - *[Paratrechina](/source/Paratrechina)* Motschoulsky, 1863 - *[Prenolepis](/source/Prenolepis)* Mayr, 1861 - *[Pseudolasius](/source/Pseudolasius)* Emery, 1887 - *[Zatania](/source/Zatania)* LaPolla et al., 2012
- [Melophorini](/source/Melophorini) Forel, 1912 - *[Lasiophanes](/source/Lasiophanes)* Emery, 1895 - *[Melophorus](/source/Melophorus)* Lubbock, 1883 - *[Myrmecorhynchus](/source/Myrmecorhynchus)* André, 1896 - *[Notoncus](/source/Notoncus)* Emery, 1895 - *[Notostigma](/source/Notostigma)* Emery, 1920 - *[Prolasius](/source/Prolasius)* Forel, 1892 - *[Pseudonotoncus](/source/Pseudonotoncus)* Clark, 1934 - *[Stigmacros](/source/Stigmacros)* Forel, 1905 - *[Teratomyrmex](/source/Teratomyrmex)* McAreavey, 1957
- [Myrmelachistini](/source/Myrmelachistini)[4][5][6] - *[Brachymyrmex](/source/Brachymyrmex)* Mayr, 1868 - *[Myrmelachista](/source/Myrmelachista)* Roger, 1863
- [Myrmoteratini](/source/Myrmoteratini) Emery, 1895 - *[Myrmoteras](/source/Myrmoteras)* Forel, 1893
- [Oecophyllini](/source/Oecophyllini) Emery, 1895 - †*[Eoecophylla](/source/Eoecophylla)* Archibald et al., 2024 - *[Oecophylla](/source/Oecophylla)* Smith, 1860
- [Plagiolepidini](/source/Plagiolepidini) Forel, 1886 - *[Acropyga](/source/Acropyga)* Roger, 1862 - *[Agraulomyrmex](/source/Agraulomyrmex)* Prins, 1983 - *[Anoplolepis](/source/Anoplolepis)* Santschi, 1914 - *[Aphomomyrmex](/source/Aphomomyrmex)* Emery, 1899 - *[Bregmatomyrma](/source/Bregmatomyrma)* Wheeler, 1929 - *[Lepisiota](/source/Lepisiota)* Santschi, 1926 - *[Petalomyrmex](/source/Petalomyrmex)* Snelling, 1979 - *[Plagiolepis](/source/Plagiolepis)* Mayr, 1861 - *[Tapinolepis](/source/Tapinolepis)* Emery, 1925
- [Santschiellini](/source/Santschiellini) Forel, 1917 - *[Santschiella](/source/Santschiella)* Forel, 1916
- *[incertae sedis](/source/Incertae_sedis)* - †*[Attopsis](/source/Attopsis)* Heer, 1850 - †*[Estevia](/source/Estevia)* Fisher, 2025 - †*[Leucotaphus](/source/Leucotaphus)* Donisthorpe, 1920 - †*[Liaoformica](/source/Liaoformica)* Hong, 2002 - †*[Longiformica](/source/Longiformica)* Hong, 2002 - †*[Magnogasterites](/source/Magnogasterites)* Hong, 2002 - †*[Orbicapitia](/source/Orbicapitia)* Hong, 2002 - †*[Ovalicapito](/source/Ovalicapito)* Hong, 2002 - †*[Ovaligastrula](/source/Ovaligastrula)* Hong, 2002 - †*[Protrechina](/source/Protrechina)* Wilson, 1985 - †*[Sinoformica](/source/Sinoformica)* Hong, 2002 - †*[Sinotenuicapito](/source/Sinotenuicapito)* Hong, 2002

## References

1. Klotz, John H. (2008). ["Formicinae"](https://books.google.com/books?id=Q7T4gg6j7xUC&pg=PA11). *Urban ants of North America and Europe: identification, biology, and management*. Cornell University Press. ISBN 978-0-8014-7473-6.

1. ["Subfamily: Formicinae"](http://www.antweb.org//description.do?name=formicinae&rank=subfamily&project=allantwebants). *antweb.org*. [AntWeb](/source/AntWeb). Retrieved 21 September 2013.

1. Bolton, B. (2013), ["An online catalog of the ants of the world."](http://antcat.org), *AntCat*, retrieved 17 October 2023

1. Ward, Philip S.; Blaimer, Bonnie B.; Fisher, Brian L. (2016). "A revised phylogenetic classification of the ant subfamily Formicinae(Hymenoptera: Formicidae), with resurrection of the genera Colobopsis and Dinomyrmex". *Zootaxa*. **4072** (3): 343–57. Magnolia Press. [doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4072.3.4](https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4072.3.4). [PMID 27395929](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27395929)

1. Christopher M. Wilson & Autumn Smith-Herron (2016). "Morphology of the male genitalia of Brachymyrmex and their implications in the Formicinae phylogeny". *Journal of Hymenoptera Research*. **50**: 81–95. Pensoft Publishers. [doi:10.3897/JHR.50.8697](https://doi.org/10.3897/JHR.50.8697). [ISSN 1070-9428](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/1070-9428)

1. ["AntWeb"](https://www.antweb.org). California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 2018-03-10.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Formicinae](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formicinae) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formicinae?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.