Plectroctena

Smith, F., 1858, Catalogue of the hymenopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Part VI. Formicidae., London: British Museum : 101

Genus 5. PLECTROCTENA .

Head subquadrate; antennae shorter than the head and thorax; the flagellum clavate, inserted very forward on the face near its anterior margin on each side of a central protuberance, which is advanced over and conceals the clypeus; the anterior margin of the latter widely emarginate; eyes small and ovate, not prominent, situated very forward on the sides of the head near the base of the mandibles; mandibles elongate, very slightly bent and crossing each other, their inner margin with a blunt tooth towards their base; the labial palpi 4-jointed; the maxillary palpi 3- jointed. Thorax oblong; the calcar at the apex of all the tibiae, pectinate within. Abdomen oblong, with a deep strangulation between the first and second segments; the node subglobose.

This subgenus of Ponera differs in such remarkable peculiarities, and will not assimilate with any divisional group yet proposed, that it must stand isolated for the present: the form of the mandibles appears to indicate some peculiar economy; the small advanced eyes are also remarkable: the characters, being drawn from a worker ant, will doubtless require hereafter some additions and modifications. The beautiful pectination of the tibial spurs is common to several of the Poneridae, but is sometimes only to be observed on the anterior legs, as in Ectatomma .