[2] Bolton raised the tribe to subfamily status in 2003, suggesting that Agroecomyrmecinae might be the sister taxon to Myrmicinae.

[5] Since the original description, the systematic status of the Agroecomyrmecini tribe has been the focus of intense debate.

In their study, Baroni Urbani & de Andrade (2007) identified six morphological synapomorphies shared between Tatuidris and the dacetines, justifying the inclusion of the genus within Myrmicinae.

[12] Given the early appearance of the Agroecomyrmecinae in the geologic record, the similarities of armadillo ants to Myrmicinae were hypothesized to represent convergence and/or retention of plesiomorphic forms.

[16] Agroecomyrmex is known from Early Eocene, Lutetian, Baltic amber dating to 44 million years (Myr) ago, and Eulithomyrmex from late Eocene, Priabonian, Florissant shale (34.1 Myr ago) in present-day Colorado, United States.