Stenamma callipygium

Stenamma callipygium has been collected by sifting leaf litter, beating vegetation and baiting with cookie bait. In addition, a single worker was found in a flight intercept trap placed underneath a Malaise trap. This species is a cloud forest specialist known from 1630–1750 m elevation. Very few Stenamma species are known from beating samples, suggesting that this species may nest or at least forage arboreally. The diversity of collecting methods that have retrieved this species suggests that it is an active forager. It is surprising, however, that out of the over 100 leaf litter samples collected at the Biotopo Quetzal by the LLAMA project, only one sample had S. callipygium.

The oddly shaped clypeus and mandible of this species is unique within Stenamma and begs for explanation. Most likely the projecting clypeal tooth is used for the capture or maceration of a specific prey type.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Guatemala.

Nomenclature

 *  callipygium. Stenamma callipygium Branstetter, 2013: 63, figs. 58-60 (w.q.) GUATEMALA.