Dracula-ants
Guides
Amblyoponinae
Dracula ants, Vampire ants
Amblyoponinae is an ancient, relictual subfamily of ants characterized by specialized subterranean predatory habits and unique 'Dracula ant' behavior, in which adult workers pierce the integument of their own larvae to imbibe haemolymph. The subfamily contains 13 extant genera and originated in the mid-Cretaceous approximately 107 million years ago. Crown group diversification occurred in the Late Paleocene/Early Eocene. The subfamily exhibits remarkable morphological and behavioral diversity, including convergent evolution of army ant-like behaviors in some lineages and highly plastic caste systems in others.
Stigmatomma
Dracula ants
Stigmatomma is a genus of ants in the subfamily Amblyoponinae with worldwide distribution. The genus was revived from synonymy with Amblyopone by Yoshimura & Fisher (2012) based on worker mandible morphology. Species are specialized predators with a cryptobiotic lifestyle, inhabiting soil and rotten wood in humid forests.
Stigmatomma oregonense
Western Dracula Ant
Stigmatomma oregonense is a species of Dracula ant in the subfamily Amblyoponinae, native to western North America. It is a specialized predator known to hunt centipedes. The species was first described by Wheeler in 1915 and has been maintained in live colonies for public display and research. Like other members of its genus, it exhibits predatory behaviors characteristic of the Amblyoponinae.