Plectroctena mandibularis explained

Plectroctena mandibularis, called the ringbum ant or millipede munching ant^{[1] [2] [3]}, is a large species of ant that ranges from the Eastern Cape, South Africa, through East Africa to Ethiopia. Their workers forage singly^[4] in open terrain, and their colony size seldom exceeds fifty individuals.^{[4] [5]} It is one of the large Plectroctena species, including P. conjugata and P. minor, that specialize on adult millipedes as prey.^[5] The nest is composed of chambers that are typically located two feet or more below the surface, and the nest entrances are usually marked by large piles of earth.^{[4] [5]} They get their colloquial, common name from their tendency to prey on millipedes.

External links

• Species: Plectroctena mandibularis, Antweb
• Plectroctena mandibularis, Antwiki

Notes and References

1. https://thewildebeest.co.za/04164-african-stink-ant.php#google_vignette
2. https://antsofthecape.blogspot.com/p/plectroctena-man.html
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hseN8qaqTaY
4. Arnold . G. . A monograph of the Formicidae in South Africa. Part I. . Annals of the South African Museum . 1915 . 14 . 1–159.
5. Bolton . B. . Gotwald . W. H. . Leroux . J-M . A new West African ant of the genus Plectroctena with ecological notes (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) . Annales de l'Université d'Abidjan, Série E (Écologie) . 1976 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110912145439/http://gap.entclub.org/taxonomists/Bolton/Plectroctena.pdf . dead . 12 September 2011 . 5 September 2013 .