Proceratium galilaeum

Known from only two workers, nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
A member of the arnoldi clade. Differing from its ingroup species, Proceratium arnoldi, in the worker, by the body sculpture more superficial, by the longer scapes, by the palp formula 4,3 instead of 3,2, and by the longer mid and hind basitarsi. The lower mesopleurae is entirely inflated. Proceratium galilaeum is easily recognisable by a clear, salient bulla on the posterior border of the petiole. (Baroni Urbani and de Andrade 2003)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Israel.

Nomenclature

 *  galilaeum. Proceratium galilaeum De Andrade, in Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2003b: 301, figs. 124, 125 (w.) ISRAEL.

Worker
Head longer than broad and with subparallel sides. Vertex weakly convex in full face view and flat in full dorsal view. Clypeus medially reduced, superficially convex, between the and as long as the antennal sockets. Anterior border of the clypeus minutely crenulate. Antennal socket with broad torulus. Frontal carinae slightly far from each other, partially covering the antennal insertions. Frons gently concave medially and connected to a superficially marked longitudinal carina prolonging posteriorly. Lateral expansions of the frontal carinae narrow, raised, diverging on the two anterior thirds and subparallel on the posterior third. Genal carinae marked, each carina corresponding to the external border of a deep sulcus. Eyes small, visible as a dark dot below the integument over the mid line of the head. First funicular joint about ¼ longer than broad. Funicular joints 2-10 broader than long. Last funicular joint about as long as the sum of joints 7-10. Scapes short of the vertexal margin and gently thickening apically. External base of the mandibles concave. Masticatory margin of the mandibles with 4 denticles before the pointed apical tooth. Palp formula 4,3.

Mesosoma gently convex in profile and slightly shorter than maximum head length (mandibles included). Promesopleural and meso-metapleural sutures impressed ventrally only. Basal face of the propodeum declivous posteriorly. Declivous face of the propodeum gently concave anteriorly. Basal and declivous faces of the propodeum separated laterally by a lamelliform tooth. Sides of the declivous face of the propodeum with a narrow lamella broader and subangulate posteriorly. Lower mesopleurae with well defined sutures and strongly inflate. Propodeal spiracle round and above mid height in lateral view.

Petiolar node subrectangular in profile, the dorsum of the node almost flat and bearing a postero-medial transparent, salient bulla below the integument. Petiole in dorsal view with its sides diverging on the anterior fourth and convex posteriorly. Anterior border of the petiole almost straight and carinate, the carina angulate on each side. Ventral process of the petiole lamelliform, rectangular, the lamella not pointed. Postpetiole anteriorly broader than the petiole; its sides diverging posteriorly. Postpetiolar dorsum with a postero-medial, transparent, salient bulla below the integument. Postpetiolar sternite anteromedially with a marked subtriangular projection. Postpetiolar sternite strongly convex posteriorly in profile. Constriction between postpetiole and gaster impressed. Gastral tergite II convex on the curvature and with a postero-medial, transparent, flat bulla below the integument. Remaining gastral tergites and sternites curved ventrally.

Legs slender and slightly elongate. All tibiae with a pectinate spur. Spurs of fore legs without basal spine. Fore basitarsi longer than the mid ones. Wind basitarsi 1/5 shorter than hind tibiae. Second tarsomere of hind legs subequal in size to the pretarsus. Pretarsal claws simple. Arolia present.

Sculpture. Head granulopunctate. Mesosoma and petiole granulopunctate and with traces of very sparse and superficial, irregular, foveae-like depressions. Postpetiole, gaster and legs minutely punctate.

Body covered by hairs of three main types: (1) short, dense, subdecumbent on the whole body, sparse and erect on the funicular joints; (2) longer than type (1), sparse and subdecumbent on the whole body, slightly shorter on the scapes, absent on the funiculi; (3) shorter than hair type (1), dense and decumbent on the funicular joints only. In addition the funicular joints bear whitish, thick, appressed, short, sparse hairs.

Colour. Light brown.

Measurements in mm and Indices: TL 3.1 1-3.40; WL 0.76-0.79; WW 0.66-0.69; EL 0.03-0.05; SL 0.53-0.55; WL 0.87-0.95; PeL 0.32-0.34; PeW 0.30-0.34; HTiL 0.51-0.54; WBaL 0.41-0.44; LS4 0.25-0.30; LT4 0.59-0.69; CI 86.8-87.3; SI 69.6-69.7; IGR 0.42-0.43.

Type Material
Holotype worker labelled "Israel, Galilee, Eilon, N. Betzet, 20.IV.1982, Besuchet, Lobl" in ; 1 paratype worker same data and collection as the holotype.

Etymology
"Galilaeus" is an adjective indicating the provenance from Galilee.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Borowiec L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
 * Vonshak M., and A. Ionescu-Hirsch. 2009. A checklist of the ants of Israel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Israel Journal of Entomology 39: 33-55.