First gastral tergite well developed, longer in dorsal view than exposed parts of the following terga together.

Opening at gastral apex for release of venom lacking a radial fringe of hairs.

[citation needed] Polyrhachis species do not have stingers but instead an acidopore that can spray formic acid.

Polyrhachis that do not possess a metapleural gland seem to utilise the antibiotic properties of their formic acid and when it cannot be used, ants are more likely to succumb to parasite infection [4] Some species are found to be social parasites of different ant genera; Polyrachis lamellidens is an excellent example.

Once the newly mated queens find a host colony, they attack small workers and acquire their pheromones.

After repeating this process to multiple ants, they sneak into the nest and pretend to be a colony member.