Cladistics of the tribe ectatommini (Hymenoptera : formicidae): a reappraisal

The cladistic analysis of ectatommine ants by Lattke (1994) is reanalyzed a nd discussed. It is argued that Lattke's sample of taxa (in particular his choice of outgroups) is problematic because of the acceptance of unreliable previous analyses of ant subfamilial relationships. Additionally, Lattke's proposed reclassification is inconsistent cladistically. A revised matrix is pre seated with the addition of three outgroups and twelve characters (1 9 taxa and 41 characters in total). This matrix yields a single most parsim onious cladogram (L=116; CI=46; RI=61) with Ponerinae paraphyletic with res pect to the other poneroid exemplars included (Apomyrma Cerapachys and Chel iomyrmex). This result illustrates the need for a full taxonomic revision o f the poneroid group.