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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Logan, Utah » Pollinating Insect-Biology, Management, Systematics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #429345
Research Project: Management, Conservation, Systematics, and Genomics of Diverse Bees for Sustainable Crop Production and Wildlands Preservation in a Changing Climate

Location: Pollinating Insect-Biology, Management, Systematics Research

Title: A genus-level classification of the ant subfamily Ponerinae (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Author
item FISHER, BRIAN - California Academy Of Sciences
item Branstetter, Michael
item BLAIMER, BONNIE - California Academy Of Sciences
item BOROWIEC, MAREK - Colorado State University
item CAMACHO, GABRIELA - California Academy Of Sciences
item DORE, MAEL - California Academy Of Sciences
item WARD, PHILIP - University Of California, Davis
item LONGINO, JOHN - University Of Utah

Submitted to: ZooKeys
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/10/2025
Publication Date: 12/19/2025
Citation: Fisher, B.L., Branstetter, M.G., Blaimer, B.B., Borowiec, M.L., Camacho, G.P., Dore, M., Ward, P.S., Longino, J.T. 2025. A genus-level classification of the ant subfamily Ponerinae (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). ZooKeys. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1264.173399.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1264.173399

Interpretive Summary: Ants are important insects that impact natrual and agricultural ecosystems around the world. The ant subfamily Ponerinae is a diverse group of hunting ants that includes important invasive species in tropical and temperate regions. In collaboration with the California Academy of Sciences and other U.S. universities, an ARS scientist used genome-scale molecular data and sampling of over 1,170 species to create the largest family tree for the subfamily to date. Using the results, the authors refined how genera are divided up and produced new identification keys by geographic region, resulting in the formal scientific description of four new genera. This classification offers a stable framework grounded in phylogenetic evidence for future research on ponerine ants and will improve identification of these ants in agricultural systems and ports of entry.

Technical Abstract: We revise the genus-level classification of the ant subfamily Ponerinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) based on a comprehensive phylogenomic analysis of over 2,300 ultraconserved element (UCE) loci across 1,170 taxa. While most previously defined genus groups are recovered as monophyletic, several genera are shown to be polyphyletic or paraphyletic. To resolve these inconsistencies, we describe four new genera (Boltonopone (gen. nov.), Makebapone (gen. nov.), Subiridopone (gen. nov.), Sritoponera (gen. nov.)), revalidate Xiphopelta stat. rev., synonymize Iroponera under Cryptopone, and transfer numerous species to ensure all genera reflect monophyletic lineages. Mesoponera is split into four genera, including the newly described Makebapone and Subiridopone and the revalidated Xiphopelta, to resolve its polyphyly. Euponera is restricted by expanding Fisheropone to absorb a paraphyletic assemblage. Morphological diagnoses are revised for each affected genus, and updated species lists and new combinations are provided. The updated classification recognizes 54 valid genera within Ponerinae and acknowledges an additional lineage that will be formally described in a subsequent publication. To support identification and comparative studies, we present revised keys to all extant Ponerinae genera, organized by biogeographic region (African and Malagasy, Eurasian and Australian, and New World). This classification offers a stable framework grounded in phylogenetic evidence for future research on ponerine ants.