| Leptanillinae | |
|---|---|
| |
| Leptanilla swani gyne and worker | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Leptanillinae Emery, 1910 |
| Type genus | |
| Leptanilla Emery, 1870
| |
| Diversity[1] | |
| 3 genera (50-60 species) | |
Leptanillinae is a subfamily of primitive ants consisting of three genera.
Ants of this subfamily have larvae that feed their hemolymph to the queen through specialized processes on their prothoraces and third abdominal segments.[2] This behavior resembles that of the distantly related Adetomyrma, also called the Dracula ant, which pierces their larvae to obtain body fluids.[citation needed]
Members of Leptanilla are minute, yellow, blind ants that live below the surface.[citation needed]
- ^ Bolton, B. (2015). "Leptanillinae". AntCat. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
- ^ Tree of Life Web Project. 2004. Leptanillini. Version 21 October 2004 (temporary). In: The Tree of Life Web Project