CATAULACUS

This is a Old World arboreal ant genus known by 65 to 68 species (absent from New Guinea and Australia). These solitary foraging ants usually nest within tree branches, while some species seem to prefer rotten branches. Their broad flat head has deep grooves on the sides where the scape of the antennae rests. Surprisingly little is known about the behaviour of these ants. From field observation, I do know that they feign dead when disturbed. A nice reading on this genus includes: Bolton B. 1974. Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.), Bull. 30:1-105 and Snelling RR. 1979. Contrib. Sci. Natur. Hist. Mus. Los Angeles County 315: 1-8.