Subfamily Ponerinae Compiled by Hilda Taylor Genus Ectatomma

Genus Amblyopone

Genus Anochteus Descriptive Characteristics: - Most species are very small - Closely related to Odontomachus - Head has smooth curve without nuchal carina - Mandibles elongate - Post petiole fused, not well defined Habitat: - Found mostly in wet tropical forests = can also be found in semiarid habitats in the US - Can be found under rocks and in the soil

Genus Ectatomma Descriptive Characteristics: - Body covered with ridges, parallel lines - Bump on top and on the sides of the pronotum Habitat: - Found in tropical rain forest and also in deserts - nest in soils

Genus Gnamptogenys Descriptive Characteristics: - Resembles Genus Ectotmma, but it is smaller - Closely related to Genus Ectotomma - Has concentric ridges on petiole - Brown Habitat: - Almost always found in moist habitats - Nest in or under logs = in the US found in the soil = in Mexico in logs and in the soil

Genus Hypoponera Descriptive Characteristics: - Very small, dark brown - Very tiny eyes (extremely hard to find) - Mid and hind tibia with only one spur (pectinate) - Very very difficult to identify Habitat: - Found under rocks in all kinds of habitats such as: = hard wood forests (Chiracahuas National Park , Portal) = deserts (Jornada Experimental Ranch, Chih. Desert) = high altitudes > 8, 000 ft in Colombia = tropical rain forests

Genus Leptogenys Descriptive Characteristics: - Queens look a lot like workers (hard to differentiate) - Big shinny ants - Some have spines on the petiole - Front, mid, and hind tarsus with 2 pectinate claws Habitats: - Found in moist forests in logs and under rocks

Genus Odontomachus Descriptive Characteristics: - Head is a little longer than Anochetus with a nuchal carina - Bigger ant than Anochetus - Mandibles elongate with 3 teeth at apex - Antennae with 12 segments - Petiole sharply pointed above - Gaster with very weak constriction between first 2 terga Habitat: - Most common in deserts = can be found in the Davis Mountains in south Texas = can also be found under rocks in cacao forests where wet - One queen, one nest

Genus Pachycondyla Descriptive Characteristics: - Some ants have a carina that runs from the mandible to the eye, resembles a ridge or scar. - Some ants have a carina n the pronotum - Mid and hind tibia with two tibial spurs = one normal pectinate = one resembles a hair Habitat: - Tropical rain forests under roks and in the soil - US in south Texas

Genus Paraponera Descriptive Characteristics: - Very big ant, ~ 1” (2. 5 cm) - Commonly known as “Bullet Ants” - One can hear stridulation - Head - Depression where the scape of the antennae originates extends up above the eye around and behind it (structure on side of the head is where the runctillus rests) - Petiole is rectangular in shape - Predaceous Habitat: - Tropical forests (maybe from Costa Rica to Panama)

Genus Ponera Descriptive Characteristics: - Petiole has a small circle at the bottom, resembles a window. - Petiole has two little teeth at the bottom, resemble two small angles Habitat: - Moist forests, neartic, not found in tropcial forests.

Genus Thaumathomyrmex Descriptive Characteristics: - Mandibles very distinct - Shinny black, glossy Habitat: - Tropical forests, primary growth - Nest in the soil - Possibly feeds on millepedes