Prionopelta

Specimens of Prionopelta are uncommonly encountered. Nests are in soil under objects, under bark or in rotten wood. Workers are rarely seen above ground and they apparently forage primarily in leaf litter or in other cryptic situations.

Identification
Mandibles long and slender and usually with 3 teeth (although sometimes with a few very small denticles as well) that are grouped together near the tip on a face separate from the rest of the mandible. The petiole has distinct front and upper faces but lacks a rear face, and its attachment to the gaster is broad and approximately the same height as the petiole so that the upper surfaces of petiole and gaster are separated by at most a shallow impression. Overall length small, less than about 2mm in total length. These small ants can be recognised by the shape of the mandibles and petiole.

See Key to Indo-Pacific Prionopelta Species

Nomenclature

 *  PRIONOPELTA [Amblyoponinae]
 * Prionopelta Mayr, 1866a: 503. Type-species: Prionopelta punctulata, by monotypy.
 * Prionopelta senior synonym of Examblyopone: Brown, 1951: 102.
 * Prionopelta senior synonym of Renea: Brown, 1953c: 11.
 * EXAMBLYOPONE [junior synonym of Prionopelta]
 * Examblyopone Donisthorpe, 1949g: 401. Type-species: Examblyopone churchilli (junior synonym of Prionopelta majuscula), by original designation.
 * Examblyopone junior synonym of Prionopelta: Brown, 1951: 102.
 * RENEA [junior synonym of Prionopelta]
 * Renea Donisthorpe, 1947d: 183. Type-species: Renea testacea (junior synonym of Prionopelta majuscula), by original designation.
 * Renea junior synonym of Prionopelta: Brown, 1953c: 11.

Additional References

 * Shattuck, S.O. (2008) Revision of the ant genus Prionopelta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Indo-Pacific region. Zootaxa 1846, 21–34.