Proceratium


Proceratium is a rare genus of ants in the subfamily Proceratiinae. It is the type genus of the tribe Proceratiini, which in addition to Proceratium consists of two even rarer genera: the extant Discothyrea and the fossil genus Bradoponera.

Distribution

The genus is rare, but widespread throughout the northern temperate and tropical zones. In the Old World, it is distributed from Spain to Japan, in sub-Saharan Africa, Mauritius, the Malay Archipelago, New Guinea, Queensland and Fiji. In the New World, it is known from Canada to Brazil.

Biology

file:Proceratium eocenicum paratype GPIH-BE4507 [Profile whole.jpg|thumb|right|P. eocenicum male]
Colonies are relatively small, usually containing less than 200 individuals. They nest in soil, in rotten wood, under stones, or on tree branches. Similar to its sister genus Discothyrea, some species are specialist predators of arthropod eggs, mainly spider eggs.

Species