Proatta

This montypic genus, from southeast Asia, is strikingly similar in appearance to New World Attine species. Unlike the Attines, Proatta butteli is a predator and scavenger. Their prey includes isopods, centipeds and a variety of insects, including other ant species.

Identification
The combination of 11 antennal segements, size (~2 mm), the series of spines along the dorso-lateral margins of the mesosoma, and the conspicuous frontal carinae that extend from the frontal lobes to the occipital margin set these workers apart from other co-occurring Myrmicinae ant species. In general appearance they are most similar to a number of Attine genera, which are all found in the New World.

Biology
See the Proatta butteli webpage for information about the single species of this genus.

Nomenclature

 *  PROATTA [Myrmicinae: Stenammini]
 * Proatta Forel, 1912m: 768. Type-species: Proatta butteli, by monotypy.
 * [Proatta also described as new by Forel, 1913k: 84.]
 * [Proatta erroneously as senior synonym of Asemorhoptrum and Theryella: Snelling, R.R. 1981: 395; these names properly attributed to synonymy of Stenamma, see there.]

Moffett (1987) - For female castes, probable synapomorphies include:

1. The blunt spines on the head and ali trunk of workers, which closely resemble those found in many Mycocepurus and Myrmicocrypta species and some other attines.

2. Presence of a projection located somewhat ventrad on the posterior-lateral surface of the head, remarkably similar to projections found in Myrmicocrypta (feeble ridges present on the heads of Mycocepurus workers may be homologous).

3. Presence of a narrow, finger-shaped extention of the clypeus, which is produced back between the antennal carinae, as in Mycocepurus and Myrmicocrypta.

4. Shape and position of lateral ridges on the dorsal surface of the petiole node closely resemble most species of Myrmicocrypta and Mycocepurus. Petiole shape in these genera is very close to that of Proatta.

5. Posterior margin of postpetiole indented medad in dorsal view, as in most attines.

6. Queen with two pairs of blunt spines on anterior face of pronotum very similar in size and location to those of Myrmicocrypta queens. Proatta, gynes also closely resemble those of attines in wing venation and in trunk shape. Proatta males likewise resemble those of attines.

Of the characters distinguishing Proatta from the Attini (EMERY, 1922; WEBER, 1.958), several (e.g. the number of antennal segments) are apparently plesiomorphies. Contrary to statements by EMERY (1922) and others, the front tarsi of attine ants are not always conspicuously more dilated than in Proatta. The front tarsi of Proatta and species of Cyphomyrmex are particularly similar. The clypeus of Proatta is very distinctive; however, this could represent an autapomorphy.