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Leptanillinae

Leptanillinae
Leptanilla.swani.-.wheeler.svg
Leptanilla swani female and worker
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Leptanillinae
Emery, 1910
Type genus
Leptanilla
Emery, 1870
Diversity
6 genera (50-60 species)

Leptanillinae is a subfamily of ants. They are further divided into the tribes Anomalomyrmini and Leptanillini.

In all Leptanillini, the larvae feed their hemolymph to the queen through specialized processes on their prothoraces and third abdominal segments. This behavior resembles that of the unrelated Adetomyrma, also called Dracula ants, which pierce their larvae to obtain body fluids.

At least Leptanilla and Phaulomyrma are minute, yellow, blind ants that live below the surface.



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Wikipedia

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