It is a rare ant genus belonging to the Proceratiinae subfamily. It serves as the type genus for the tribe Proceratiini, which also includes the extremely rarer genera Discothyrea and Bradoponera in addition to Proceratium.
Distribution
The genus is uncommon but widespread in both the tropical and northern temperate zones. Sub-Saharan Africa, Mauritius, the Malay Archipelago, New Guinea, Queensland (Australia), and Fiji are among the places in the Old World where it is found, in addition to Spain and Japan. It is well-known in the New World from Canada to Brazil (and some Caribbean islands).
Body Appearance
A body with at least three distinct hair types: (1) short and typically dense, suberect or subdecumbent on the entire body; (2) long erect or suberect on the entire body, occasionally sub decumbent, dense or sparse, rarely absent; and (3) extremely short, decumbent or appressed on the funicular joints only. Color reddish-brown, dark brown, or black. It can also be yellowish-light brown. Legs that are the same color as or lighter as the body.
Biology
Colonies are often less than 200 people in size, making them quite small. They build their nests on tree branches, in rotten wood, under stones, or in the dirt. Some species are specialized predators of arthropod eggs, primarily spider eggs, much like their sister genus Discothyrea.
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