Stenamma californicum

Very Little is know about this species. The types were found in fern humus and a second collection is noted as being from the leaf litter in chaparral. Other collections have been taken in oak woodlands.

Identification
A relatively small and variable speices in the diecki group. Eyes with 3-5 facets in greatest diameter; thoracic rugulae coarse, close, interspaces moderately to strongly shiny; postpetiole shiny between rugulae; first tergite lightly punctulate on basal third or less; first sternite punctulate and firiely striolate, at least at sides. The sculptured first sternite, within this group, is shared with Stenamma dyscheres, but that species is usually larger, has distinct, rather coarse rugulae on the sides of the thorax, usually has distinct longitudinal striae on the first sternite and the first tergite is not distinctly punctulate.

Workers are uniformly light ferruginous with the sutures and margins a little darker.

diecki group

Distribution
USA and Mexico. Known from California, Arizona and Baja California.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Nearctic Region: United States. Neotropical Region: Mexico.

Habitat
Oak woodland, chaparral.

Abundance
Rarely collected.

Nomenclature

 *  californicum. Stenamma californicum Snelling, R.R. 1973c: 16, figs. 16, 17, 24, 25, 27 (w.q.) U.S.A.

Male
Snelling (1973) states in his description that the males are unknown. Then, later in the discussion section of the taxonomic treatment, reports there are tens males known from a USNM collection of a mating flight from the Berkeley Hills. There remains no taxonomic description of the Stenamma californicum males.

Type Material
Holotype and 14 paratype workers: Holotype and 8 paratypes in ; one paratype each in, , , ACC, GCW and WSC.

Type Locality Information
Snow Creek Canyon, San Jacinto Mts., Riverside Co., CALIF., 20 March 1954 (J. N. Belkin, et al.) in fern humus.

Etymology
Toponym. Named for the state of California.

Additional References

 * Johnson, R. A. and P. S. Ward. 2002. Biogeography and endemism of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Baja California, Mexico: a first overview. Journal of Biogeography. 29:1009-1026.
 * Snelling, R. R. 1973. Studies on California ants. 7. The genus Stenamma (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Contributions in Science (Los Angeles). 245:1-38.