Amblyoponini is the sole tribe of the ant subfamily Amblyoponinae containing 13 extant genera and one extinct genus. The ants in this subfamily are mostly specialized subterranean predators. Adult workers non-lethally pierce the integument of their larvae and pupae to imbibe haemolymph, earning them the common nameDracula ant.
Identification
The subfamily 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.
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.
This article incorporates text from a scholarly publication published under a copyright license that allows anyone to reuse, revise, remix and redistribute the materials in any form for any purpose: Bolton, B. (2013), "An online catalog of the ants of the world.", AntCat, retrieved 22 September 2013 Please check the source for the exact licensing terms.
