Myrmicinae

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Myrmicinae (parasol ants; suborder Apocrita, family Formicidae) Subfamily of ants in which the petiole is composed of two node-like segments. The tip of the gaster is equipped with a sting, supplied with venom from glands. Messor species (harvester ants) feed on grain and store seeds in chambers within the soil nest. In Monomorium pharaonis (Pharaoh's ant), a tramp species that is now a widespread pest, budding has replaced reproduction by mating flights. The subfamily has a world-wide distribution and there are about 5000 species.