This genus has a strictly American distribution, inhabiting in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions and containing 60 species, several undescribed.

Despite being considered by many ant collectors as "road side weeds", several species of Dorymyrmex shown a high degree of endemicity, specialized habitat preferences, and varied population structure.

Some species may serve as potential agents of biological control of annual crop pests.

Species of Dorymyrmex nest preferentially in dry or disturbed habitats, generally in soil without vegetation cover.

Such behavior is common in other Dolichoderinae genera and related subfamilies.