Ants – What Subphylum Do Ants Belong To?

Biological taxonomy classifies organisms according to their evolutionary relationships. This classification is frequently ordered in a hierarchy. Biological taxonomy is used to organize all organisms on the planet.

Ants are a subphylum of the order Hymenoptera. Ants belong to the Formicidae family. They are eusocial insects that live in colonies. They are also predators. Their role in ecosystems is significant. Ants are widely distributed throughout the world. There are more than 12,000 species of ants.

Biological taxonomy classifies ants into three major groups. Among these are subfamily, tribe, and genus. The subfamily is the largest grouping. Most ants can be placed in a subfamily with little difficulty. However, there are some species that are social parasites of other ants.

The tribe is a category between the subfamily and the genus. Tribes are not used very often. Tribes are used in selected groups. For example, cockroaches, fire ants, and termites belong to this group.

The subphylum Myriapoda contains more than 13,000 species. The majority of the species are land-dwelling arthropods. Myriapods have 10 to 750 legs, a single pair of antennae, and mouthparts that are similar to chelicerates.

The subphylum Myriapoda is divided into the following subfamilies: Eciton, Myrmecinae, Ponerinae, and Myriapoda. The subfamily Eciton is unique because its queen does not have wings.

The subfamily Myrmecinae is the most common. Most ants have a metapleural gland. This gland produces phenylacetic acid, which helps inhibit the growth of fungi and bacteria. Ants also harvest lipids from the elaisomes of myrmecochorous seeds.