The Formicinae is a subfamily within the Formicidae containing ants of moderate evolutionary development.
Formicines retain some primitive features such as the presence of cocoons around pupae, the presence of ocelli in workers, and little tendency toward reduction of palp or antennal segmentation in most species, except subterranean groups. Extreme modification of mandibles is rare, except in the genera Myrmoteras and Polyergus. On the other hand, some members show considerable evolutionary advancement in behaviors such as slave-making and symbiosis with root-feeding homopterans. Finally, all formicines have a very reduced sting and enlarged venom reservoir, with the venom gland, specialized (uniquely among ants) for the production of formic acid.
This subfamily contains a very large number of genera, many of which are grouped into tribes. It includes many of the best known ant species, including members of the genera:
Formicinae is a subfamily within the Formicidae containing ants of moderate evolutionary development.
Finally, all formicines have a very reduced sting and enlarged venom reservoir, with the venom gland, specialized (uniquely among ants) for the production of formic acid.
The tribal structure of Formicinae is not completely understood.
Formicinae is the only subfamily lacking a pygidial gland, and it is believed to have split from all other ants very early in evolutionary history.
Species of Formicinae are most commonly confused with species of Dolichoderinae since both subfamilies have the mesosoma attached to the gaster by a single segment, lack a sting, and often are of similar overall size and shape.
Species of Ponerinae also have the mesosoma attached to the gaster by a single segment, but they are less likely to be confused with formicines since ponerines are generally smaller than formicines.
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