| Plectroctena | |
|---|---|
| |
| Two workers in Tanzania | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Ponerinae |
| Tribe: | Ponerini |
| Genus: | Plectroctena F.Smith, 1858 |
| Type species | |
| Plectroctena mandibularis F.Smith, 1858
| |
| Diversity[1] | |
| 17 species | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Cacopone Santschi, 1914 | |
Plectroctena is an Afrotropical genus of ants, with most species occurring in the rainforest zones of West and Central Africa.[2] Some species are cryptic or subterranean foragers,[2] while others forage in open grassland terrain. The workers forage singly[3] or in groups of 2 to 3.[4] They nest in the earth at varying depths, or in collapsed logs. They prey mainly on millipedes, including their young or eggs.[2]
- ^ Bolton, B. (2014). "Plectroctena". AntCat. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
- ^ a b c Bolton, B.; Gotwald, W. H.; Leroux, J-M (1976). "A new West African ant of the genus Plectroctena with ecological notes (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)" (PDF). Annales de l'Université d'Abidjan, Série E (Écologie). Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 September 2011. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
- ^ Arnold, G. (1915). "A monograph of the Formicidae in South Africa. Part I.". Annals of the South African Museum. 14: 1–159.
- ^ Bolton, B. (1974). "A revision of the Ponerine ant genus Plectroctena F. Smith (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)". Bulletin of the British Museum. 30: 309–338.