The subfamily Ponerinae includes diverse subgroups. Its higher classification differs depending on the author consulted. There are about 50 genera, usually grouped in around 7 tribes. Among them, tribe Ponerini is the largest and most needful of further taxonomic study. Workers are carnivorous, and the larvae, with rare exceptions, spin cocoons prior to pupation.
Colonies are usually small.
Shortly following that publication two new species of Probolomyrmex were described from Japan and two formerly unidentified Hypoponera species were nomenclaturally determined. Since then the genus Anochetus has been recorded as a taxon new to Japan, and several of the undetermined species reported in the 1989 guide have been described as new. In addition, one formerly undetermined Ponera species has been nomenclaturally identified. Thus the known Japanese ponerine fauna presently comprises 40 species assigned to 14 genera. Nine species remain either undescribed or nomenclaturally undetermined at species level.