Proceratium planodorsum

紹介

Proceratium planodorsum is one of the rarest ants in the world, known from only two worker specimens collected in Guangxi, China . Workers measure 3.23-3.24mm total length . The species is named for its distinctive flattened mesosomal dorsum – ‘planodorsum’ meaning flat back . The head has a coarse, rough texture (punctate-reticulation) and the mandibles bear 8-9 small teeth . The petiolar node is broad and prominent . The gaster has wavy sculptural patterns . It was found inside a decaying log (80cm diameter) in a primary broad-leaved forest at 230m elevation . This species is so poorly known that no queen or colony has ever been described. With virtually no biological data, it remains a complete mystery to science.