Amblyoponinae

Amblyoponinae is a subfamily of ants in the poneromorph subfamilies group containing 13 extant genera and one extinct genus. The ants in this subfamily are mostly specialized subterranean predators.^[1] Adult workers pierce the integument (non lethally) of their larvae and pupa to imbibe haemolymph, earning them the common name Dracula ant.^[2]

Amblyoponinae Temporal range: Lutetian - Recent PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Adetomyrma venatrix worker
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Amblyoponinae Forel, 1893
Tribe:	Amblyoponini Forel, 1893
Type genus
Amblyopone Erichson, 1842
Genera
9 extant genera; 1 fossil genus[1]

Identification

Amblyoponinae is characterized by these worker characters: eyes small or absent, situated behind midlength of side of head; anterior margin of clypeus with specialized dentiform setae; promesonotal suture flexible; petiole very broadly attached to abdominal segment 3 and without a distinct posterior face; postpetiole absent; sting present and well developed.^[1]

Systematics

The subfamily was formerly considered a tribe within Ponerinae, but was elevated to its own subfamily in 2003 when Barry Bolton divided Ponerinae into six subfamilies.^[3]

• Amblyoponinae Forel, 1893
  • Amblyoponini Forel, 1893
    • Adetomyrma Ward, 1994
    • Amblyopone Erichson, 1842
    • †Casaleia Pagliano & Scaramozzino, 1990
    • Fulakora Mann, 1919
    • Myopopone Roger, 1861
    • Mystrium Roger, 1862
    • Onychomyrmex Emery, 1895
    • Prionopelta Mayr, 1866
    • Stigmatomma Roger, 1859
    • Xymmer Santschi, 1914