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Leptanillinae

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Leptanillinae
Leptanilla swani female and worker
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Leptanillinae
Emery, 1910
Type genus
Leptanilla
Emery, 1870
Diversity[1]
6 genera (50-60 species)

Leptanillinae is a subfamily of ants. They are further divided into the tribes Anomalomyrmini and Leptanillini.

In all Leptanillini, the larvae feed their hemolymph to the queen through specialized processes on their prothoraces and third abdominal segments.[2] This behavior resembles that of the unrelated Adetomyrma, also called Dracula ants, which pierce their larvae to obtain body fluids.[citation needed]

At least Leptanilla and Phaulomyrma are minute, yellow, blind ants that live below the surface.[citation needed]

Distribution

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The Leptanillinae are mainly spread out in tropical and warm temperate regions in Europe and Australian regions.[3]

Systematics

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References

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  1. ^ Bolton, B. (2015). "Leptanillinae". AntCat. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  2. ^ Tree of Life Web Project. 2004. Leptanillini. Version 21 October 2004 (temporary). In: The Tree of Life Web Project
  3. ^ Xu, Zhenghui (2017). "The northern-most record of Leptanillinae in China with description of Protanilla beijingensis sp nov (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)". 9 – via Science Citation. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
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