Leptanillinae

Summary

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

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)

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 edit

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

Systematics edit

References edit

  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)

External links edit

  •   Media related to Leptanillinae at Wikimedia Commons