Stenamma

Stenamma is a cryptic “leaf-litter” ant genus that occurs in mesic forest habitats throughout the Holarctic region, Central America, and part of northwestern South America (Colombia and Ecuador). The genus was thought to be restricted primarily to the temperate zone, but recent collecting efforts have uncovered a large radiation of Neotropical forms, which rival the Holarctic species in terms of morphological and behavioral diversity. (Branstetter 2013)

Distribution
Stenamma has been collected from North America south through Central America to northern South America (Colombia and Ecuador), Europe, northern Africa (Morocco and Algeria), temperate Asia, and Japan. No species are known to occur in the Indo-Australian region.

Species richness
Species richness by country based on regional taxon lists (countries with darker colours are more species-rich). View Data



Biology
Stenamma Westwood (1839) comprises an unfamiliar genus of cryptic, cold-adapted myrmicine ants that occur throughout most of the northern hemisphere. Although rarely encountered by the casual observer, Stenamma is frequently collected in extracts of sifted leaf litter. Many species are represented by only a few samples and not much is known about their natural history. (Branstetter 2009)

Nomenclature

 *  STENAMMA [Myrmicinae: Stenammini]
 * Stenamma Westwood, 1839: 219. Type-species: Stenamma westwoodii, by monotypy.
 * Stenamma senior synonym of Asemorhoptrum: André, 1883a: 310.
 * Stenamma senior synonym of Theryella: Santschi, 1923a: 136.
 * ASEMORHOPTRUM [junior synonym of Stenamma]
 * Asemorhoptrum Mayr, 1861: 76. Type-species: Myrmica lippula, by monotypy.
 * Asemorhoptrum junior synonym of Stenamma: André, 1883a: 310.
 * [Asemorhoptrum as junior synonym of Proatta: Snelling, R.R. 1981: 395 (in error).]
 * THERYELLA [junior synonym of Stenamma]
 * Theryella Santschi, 1921d: 68. Type-species: Theryella myops (provisional junior synonym of Stenamma punctiventre), by monotypy.
 * Theryella junior synonym of Stenamma: Santschi, 1923a: 136.
 * [Theryella junior synonym of Proatta: Snelling, R.R. 1981: 395 (error).]