Stenamma chiricahua

There is no information published about the biology of this species. The type specimens were collected from a shaded creek bed. Other collection records show they make nest chambers under stones, with one collection noted as occurring in a pine/fir/oak forest.

Identification
"Worker hardly distinguishable from that of S. smithi but smaller, scape with decumbent hairs, propodeum above metapleural gland with distinct longitudinal rugulae and metanotal depression narrow, V-shaped. Female similar to that of S. smithi but disc of mesoscutum smooth, with scattered coarse pilgerous punctures, striae or rugulae absent.

Workers are not reliably separable from small individuals of S. smithi. The difficulties of separation are discussed under S. smithi and need not be repeated here. The female of S. chiricahua appears readily separable from S. smithi and known females of other North American species by the smooth and shiny mesonotum, which wholly lacks longitudinal rugulae in the area between the parapsides, and the nonsculptured first sternite. The nonstriate mesoscutum is shared with the female of S. punctatoventre, from which it differs most obviously by the smooth, shiny first sternite. The shiny mesonotum, long basal propodeal face and lack of propodeal spines are characteristic of the male.

Workers are brownish ferruginous, with yellowish legs and antennae that are more reddish."

(Snelling 1973)

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

Range
USA. Arizona. Known from the Catalina, Chiricahua and Huachuca Mountains.

Nomenclature

 *  chiricahua. Stenamma chiricahua Snelling, R.R. 1973c: 7, figs. 6-11 (w.q.m.) U.S.A.

Type Material

 * Holotype, allotype, 4 male, 15 worker paratypes in LACM; two female, 10 male, 29 worker para types in WSC; one female, two male, three worker paratypes in AMNH; three paratypes (one each caste) in ACC, GCW, MCZ and USNM.
 * Holotype alate female, allotype male; 8 alate females, 10 males and 36 workers, paratypes (type series). Additional paratypes: dealate female, 11 males, 36 workers: Ramsey Canyon, Huachuca Mts., Cochise Co, Ariz., 25 August 1932 (W. S. Creighton: WSC).

Type Locality Information
Upper Cave Creek, 6000-7500', Chiricahua Mts., Cochise Co., Ariz., 15 August 1970 (V. Roth), in shaded creek bed.

Etymology
Commemorative. After Chiricahua, Apache Indian tribe historically resident in southeastern Arizona.

Additional References

 * Snelling, R. R. 1973. Studies on California ants. 7. The genus Stenamma (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Contributions in Science (Los Angeles). 245:1-38.