Plectroctena subterranea

This slow moving and bright red species can be found searching within leaf litter.

Identification
This distinctively punctate bright red species is easy to distinguish within the genus.

Distribution
This taxon was described from Zimbabwe. It is also found in Mozambique, Namibia, Kenya, South Africa, Malawi and Ivory Coast.

Biology
Forages slowly in leaf litter, colony size is moderate to small.

Nomenclature

 *  subterranea. Plectroctena subterranea Arnold, 1915: 84, pl. 3, fig. 23 (w.q.) ZIMBABWE. Combination in Myopias: Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 785; in Plectroctena: Santschi, 1924a: 171. Senior synonym of punctatus: Bolton, 1974c: 333.
 * punctatus. Plectroctena punctatus Santschi, 1924a: 170 (m.) KENYA. Junior synonym of subterranea: Bolton, 1974c: 333.