Leptanillinae


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.

Distribution

The Leptanillinae are mainly spread out in tropical and warm temperate regions in Europe and Australian regions.

Systematics