Stenamma manni

This species is one of the largest and most conspicuous species of Stenamma, which is probably why it was the first Middle American species to be described. As defined here, S. manni occurs from 1200–3700 m elevation, but it seems to be most common between 2000–2500 m. It occurs in wet montane forests like cloud forest, and drier, more seasonal habitats, such as oak woodland. Specimens have been collected in leaf litter samples, at bait cards, in Malaise traps, and by general searching. I have found nests in logs, in the leaf litter, under rocks, and in the ground. In Central America, S. manni is commonly found at the edge of cloud forest in logs and in the ground under logs. All Stenamma manni nests tend to be very large, with hundreds to perhaps over a thousand workers (a complete colony census has not been carried out). Nests usually have brood, alates, and a single egg-laying queen. Stenamma manni is one of the most common Stenamma species to be found at bait cards, suggesting that they are active epigeic foragers. All foragers I have observed have been solitary. (Branstetter, 2013).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua.

Nomenclature

 *  manni. Stenamma manni Wheeler, W.M. 1914b: 51 (w.q.) MEXICO. Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1972b: 237 (l.); Branstetter, 2013: 159 (w.q.m). See also: Smith, M.R. 1962a: 35.

Additional References

 * Branstetter, M.G. 2013. Revision of the Middle American clade of the ant genus Stenamma Westwood (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae). ZooKeys 295, 1–277.