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| | | | These ants can be recognised by the lack of compound eyes (Figs 1aa, 2), the ten-segmented antennae, the mesosoma being attached to the gaster by two distinct segments, the petiole and postpetiole (Fig. 3) and the lack of frontal lobes which makes the antennal sockets completely visible when viewed from the front (Figs 1bb, 2). The overall size is small and ranges from about 2.5 mm to 4.0 mm long. |  |
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| | | | The compound eyes are absent (Figs 39aa, 451). The frontal lobes are always absent so that the bases of the antennae are completely visible where they are inserted into the head when viewed from the front (Figs 39bb, 451). The pronotum and mesonotum are unfused and with a flexible joint between them (Fig. 452). The mesosoma is attached to the gaster by two distinct segments, the petiole and postpetiole (Fig. 452). The overall body size is minute, less than 2.5 mm long, and the colour is pale yellow. |  |
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| | | | This subfamily contains two distinct groups. In the first group the mesosoma is attached to the gaster by two distinct segments, the petiole and postpetiole. The mandibles are very long, more or less straight, with teeth along their entire inner margin, and attached near the outer corners of the front margin of the head.
These are some of the largest and most distinctive ants in Australia and are commonly known as bull dog ants and jack jumpers. They are immediately recognisable by their large body size (over 8 mm), large eyes and elongate mandibles. They are unlikely to be confused with any other Australian ants.In the second group the mandibles are triangular, elongate and with more than 15 teeth along their inner margins. The petiole is composed of a single segment which is about the same length as the first segment of the gaster. The gaster is smooth, without constrictions between the segments. A sting is present at the tip of the gaster (although it may be retracted and difficult to see). These are the only ants with a sting and without a postpetiole or constriction between the first and second gastral segments. |  |
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| | | | The mesosoma is attached to the gaster by two distinct segments, the petiole and postpetiole (Fig. 21aa). The mandibles are generally triangular (Fig. 36aa), but if they are elongate then there are no teeth along the inner margin and they are attached near the middle of the front margin of the head (Fig. 37cc). The eyes are almost always present, conspicuous and with many facets (Fig. 211aa) but are absent in a few species (Fig. 210a). The frontal lobes are always present and expanded towards the sides so they cover the inner part of the antennal bases where they are inserted into the head when viewed from the front (Fig. 38b). The pronotum and mesonotum are fused into a single plate (Fig. 41aa).
Species of myrmicines are most likely to be confused with species of Leptanilla or Tetraponera because of the two segmented petiole. However, both Leptanilla and Tetraponera have the pronotum and mesonotum unfused and with a flexible joint between them (Fig. 40d), while in all myrmicines these two plates are fused into a single structure (Fig. 41aa). |  |
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| | | | The mesosoma is attached to the gaster by two distinct segments, the petiole and postpetiole (Fig. 3). The mandibles are triangular and relatively short (Fig. 2). The eyes are large and elongate (Figs 1b, 2). The pronotum and mesonotum form separate plates which are connected by a flexible joint (Figs 1a, 3).
These distinctive ants are recognisable by their elongate, black bodies, large eyes and short antennae. The are most often confused with species in the subfamily Myrmicinae <../myrmicinae/myrmicinae.htm>, but differ in the pronotum and mesonotum forming separate plates rather than being fused as in the myrmicines. |  |
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