Some characters of wings are applied for description of fossil ants and their phylogeny. Seventeen recent subfamilies of Formicidae are analyzed. Sixteen types of forewing venation are distinguished. The main ant subfamilies are compared according to forewing venation and other characteristics of wings. General relations between wing venation and size of ants are described. Specific features of wing venation in representatives of various subfamilies are presented, as well as differences in evolutionary trends. General trends of wing venation are discussed.