Cacopone Santschi, 1914 Plectroctena is an Afrotropical genus of ants, with most species occurring in the rainforest zones of West and Central Africa.

[2] A colony of P. lygaria (a small species of the mandibularis-group) may number in excess of 300 adults.

[2][3] In a colony of P. lygaria, the nest chambers are located at shallow depth, in moist soil under dense leaf litter.

Nests of the widespread species P. mandibularis however, are composed of chambers typically located 2 feet or more below the surface, with entrances that are usually marked by large piles of earth.

Larger species like P. conjugata, P. mandibularis and P. minor specialize on adult millipedes.