Discothyrea

Discothyrea are all small, relatively cryptic ants with small colonies (10-20 workers) which are generally found in rotten wood, leaf litter, or under stones (Brown, 1958a; Bolton, 1973a). Brown (1958a) first mentioned the possibility that they could be specialised predators of arthropod eggs since the closely related genus Proceratium shows such a trophic specialisation, and was able to find evidence for his theory on the basis of observations of an Australian Discothyrea species (Brown, 1958b). Most studied species prefer spider eggs, although one species was found in the nests of other ants (Brown, 1980). Queens of one African species found their nests within spider egg sacs, which provide both food and lodging for the first generation of workers (Dejean and Dejean 1998).

Identification
Bharti et al. (2015) - This distinctive genus can be easily recognized with large terminal antennal segment, reduced frontal lobes, short antennal scapes, and strongly arched 2nd gastral segment. However, the genus may be confused with the closely related Proceratium from which it is differentiated by the single tooth at the tip of the mandibles, the overhanging anterior margin of the clypeus, and the configuration of the antennae [Sarnat, Economo, 2012].

Species richness
Species richness by country based on regional taxon lists (countries with darker colours are more species-rich). View Data



Nomenclature

 *  DISCOTHYREA [Proceratiinae: Proceratiini]
 * Discothyrea Roger, 1863a: 176. Type-species: Discothyrea testacea, by monotypy.
 * Discothyrea senior synonym of Prodiscothyrea, Pseudosysphincta: Brown, 1958g: 248.
 * PRODISCOTHYREA [junior synonym of Discothyrea]
 * Prodiscothyrea Wheeler, W.M. 1916i: 33. Type-species: Prodiscothyrea velutina, by monotypy.
 * Prodiscothyrea junior synonym of Discothyrea: Brown, 1958g: 248.
 * PSEUDOSYSPHINCTA [junior synonym of Discothyrea]
 * Pseudosysphincta Arnold, 1916: 161. Type-species: Pseudosysphincta poweri, by original designation.
 * Pseudosysphincta junior synonym of Discothyrea: Brown, 1958g: 248.
 * [ Pseudosphincta Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 645, incorrect subsequent spelling.]