Proceratium bruelheidei

Most of the type series was collected during a leaf litter ant survey (Noack 2016) in the experimental tree plantations of the BEF-China Main Experiment (Bruelheide et al. 2014). No direct observations of biology and natural history are available. The trees under which the Winkler samples yielding seven of eight type specimens were collected were just six years old and had a mean diameter at breast height of 5.6 ± 2.5 cm (n=7) (Noack 2016). This may indicate that P. bruelheidei could prefer early successional forests with a relatively open soil, as the ground from which leaf litter was taken had a mean litter cover of 55 ± 24% (n=7). The single specimen (CASENT0790027) from the Gutianshan National Nature Reserve was likewise collected from an early successional forest stand that was clear-cut less than 20 years prior to the collection of the specimen. However, further sampling will be necessary to draw quantitative conclusions on habitat preferences.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  bruelheidei. Proceratium bruelheidei Staab, Xu & Hita Garcia, 2018: 148, figs. 4B, 6B, 7B, 7D, 8, 9, 24 (w.) CHINA.