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Ants (Formicidae) in Mexico have usually been undersampled despite their ecological significance and their utility as environmental service providers and bioindicators. This study estimates the species richness and the narrow endemic species number of ants across Mexico. It also documents the presence of one species newly recorded in Mexico and 19 new state-based records of 14 species from central and north Mexico. No surveys have been performed in most of the localities where we report those records, suggesting the need for a higher sampling effort across the country. We present an ant species richness estimation and a narrow endemic ant species estimation in a grid of 0.5 degrees in Mexico. Stenamma schmitii is recorded for the first time from Mexico. Additionally, new state-based records of Azteca velox, Dorymyrmex insanus, Camponotus coruscus, Camponotus striatus, Formica propatula, Lasius latipes, Neivamyrmex melanocephalus, Neivamyrmex rugulosus, Syscia augustae, Atta texana, Cephalotes scutulatus, Crematogaster crinosa and Temnothorax andrei are recorded.

Since the revival of Stenamma debile (Förster, 1850) from synonymy with Stenamma westwoodii Westwood, 1839 by DuBois (1993) the latter species appears to be a genuinely rare native British insect. The appearance of a S. westwoodii gyne in south Worcestershire, England on 23. x.2019 warrants some discussion of the genus.

The formicofauna of temperate Mexican ecosystems have been studied poorly. The objective of this study was to document the number of ant species in the protected natural area of La Malinche National Park, which features a temperate ecosystem in central Mexico. Furthermore, this study serves to update the list of species for Tlaxcala State in this area of the country. During 2015 to 2016, samples were collected along six 400 m linear transects in oak forest and agricultural land (2,700, 2,800, and 2,900 masl), using pitfall traps, baits with either protein or sugar, and hand collection from plants (where ants were foraging for floral nectar, extrafloral nectar, or honeydew). Twenty-three ant species belonging to 14 genera, 11 tribes, and 4 subfamilies were collected in La Malinche National Park. One genus (Brachymyrmex Mayr [Hymenoptera: Formicidae]), 7 species in the park, and 5 species in Tlaxcala State were new collection records. In pitfall traps, 23 species were recorded, where Dorymyrmex insanus Buckley, Formica densiventris Viereck, Lasius mexicanus Wheeler, and Brachymyrmex musculus Forel (all Hymenoptera: Formicidae) were collected exclusively from agricultural land. Temnothorax brevispinosus MacKay and Stenamma huachucanum Smith (both Hymenoptera: Formicidae) were collected exclusively in the oak forest, whereas 17 species were recovered from both habitats. Nine species were recorded from either protein or sugar baits; Formica propatula Francoeur and Temnothorax texanus Wheeler (both Hymenoptera: Formicidae) were recorded only in tuna baits, and with the remainder of the species collected with tuna and honey. Seven ant species were recorded from hand collections on plants. We have increased the number of ant species in Tlaxcala State from 53 to 58 (28 of which are present in La Malinche National Park). This faunal survey demonstrated that there is a great diversity of ant species in this temperate ecosystem. It is urgent to document the diversity of formicofauna in these types of ecosystems because they may possibly be the first to be negatively affected by climate change. Resumen La formicofauna de los ecosistemas templados ha sido pobremente estudiada. El objetivo de este estudio fue documentar el numero de especies de hormigas en el area natural protegida del Parque Nacional La Malinche, que cuenta con un ecosistema templado en el centro de Mexico. Ademas, este estudio actualiza la lista de especies de hormigas para el Estado de Tlaxcala en esta area del pais. Durante 2015 y 2016, las muestras fueron colectadas a lo largo de seis transectos lineales de 400 m en bosque de encino y campo de cultivo (2.700, 2.800, y 2.900 m sobre el nivel del mar), usando trampas pitfall, cebos con proteina o azucar, y colecta manual sobre plantas (donde las hormigas estaban forrajeando nectar floral, nectar extrafloral, o honeydew). Veintitres especies de hormigas pertenecientes a 14 generos, 11 tribus, y 4 subfamilias fueron colectadas en el Parque Nacional La Malinche. Un genero (Brachymyrmex Mayr [Hymenoptera: Formicidae]), 7 especies en el Parque Nacional La Malinche, y 5 especies en el estado de Tlaxcala fueron nuevos registros. En trampas pitfall, 23 especies fueron colectadas, de estas, Dorymyrmex insanus Buckley, Formica densiventris Viereck, Lasius mexicanus Wheeler, y B. musculus Forel (todas Hymenoptera: Formicidae) fueron exclusivamente colectadas del campo de cultivo. Temnothorax brevispinosus MacKay y Stenamma huachucanum Smith (ambas Hymenoptera: Formicidae) fueron exclusivamente colectadas en el bosque de encino, mientras que 17 especies se registraron en ambos habitats. Nueve especies fueron colectadas con cebos de proteina o azucar; Formica propatula Francoeur y Temnothorax texanus Wheeler (ambas Hymenoptera: Formicidae) fueron registradas solo en cebos de atun, y el resto de las especies fueron registradas en cebos de atun y miel. Siete especies fueron registradas a partir de la colecta manual sobre las plantas. Hemos incrementado el numero de especies de hormigas conocidas en el estado de Tlaxcala de 53 a 58 (28 de las cuales estan presentes en el Parque Nacional La Malinche). Este estudio de fauna demostro que hay una gran diversidad de especies de hormigas en este ecosistema templado. Es urgente documentar la diversidad de formicofauna en estos tipos de ecosistemas porque esta puede ser posiblemente la primera en ser afectada negativamente por el cambio climatico. Key Words: Tlaxcala State; Formicinae; Myrmicinae; oak forest; agricultural land; protected natural area View this article in BioOne

Stenamma debile (Foerster, 1850) Myrmica debilis Foerster, 1850: 52. MATERIAL EXAMINED. ��� Turkey ��� 1 ♀, 70 ���; Artvin, Şavşat, Menekşek��y; 41��18���27���N, 42��28���56���E; 1633 m; 09.VIII.2015; C. Karaman leg.; EMTU 15 /0096a. DISTRIBUTION IN TURKEY. ��� Antalya, Bursa, Yalova., Published as part of Kiran, Kadri & Karaman, Celal, 2020, Additions to the Ant Fauna of Turkey (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), pp. 285-329 in Zoosystema 42 (18) on page 313, DOI: 10.5252/zoosystema2020v42a18, http://zenodo.org/record/3922267, {"references":["FOERSTER A. 1850. - Hymenopterologische Studien. 1. Formicariae. edition. Ernst Ter Meer, Aachen, 74 p."]}

The importance of ants as elements in cave ecology has been mostly unrecognized. A global list of ant species recorded from caves, compiled from a review of existing literature, is presented. This paper also reviews what is currently known about ants occurring in Arizona (USA) caves. The diversity and distribution represented in these records suggests ants are relatively common cave visitors (trogloxenes). A general utilization of caves by ants within both temperate and tropical latitudes may be inferred from this combined evidence. Observations of ant behavior in Arizona caves demonstrate a low level and sporadic, but persistent, use of these habitats and their contained resources by individual ant colonies. Documentation of Neivamyrmex (N. nyensis) preying on cave-inhabiting arthropods is reported here for the first time. Observations of hypogeic army ants in caves suggests they may not penetrate to great vertical depth in search of prey, but can be persistent occupants in relatively shallow, horizontal sections of caves where they may prey on endemic cave animals. First cave records for ten ant species are reported from Arizona caves. These include two species of Neivamyrmex (N. nigrescens Cresson, N. nyensis Watkins; Formicidae: Dorylinae), four myrmicines (Pheidole portalensis Wilson, Pheidole cf. porcula Wheeler, Solenopsis aurea Wheeler and Stenamma sp. Westwood), one dolichoderine (Forelius keiferi Wheeler) and three formicines (Lasius arizonicus Wheeler, L. sitiens Wilson, and Camponotus sp. Mayr).

The genus Stenamma Westwood comprises a group of cryptic, cold tolerant ants that occur throughout the Holarctic and Middle American regions. Traditional approaches to taxonomy and phylogeny are confounded by multiple factors, including the conservative and often convergent morphology of workers and the rarity of reproductive castes in collections. Monophyly of Stenamma and relationships within the genus are uncertain as nearly all previous taxonomic work has been regional in scope. Furthermore, the sister group to Stenamma has not been well established. Here an extensive molecular dataset consisting of ten genes (∼8 kb of data), 48 ingroup taxa (20 Nearctic, 6 Palaearctic and 22 Neotropical) and 8 outgroup taxa (6 closely related non-Stenamma and 2 additional myrmicines) is used to investigate the broad-scale phylogeny and evolutionary history of Stenamma. Phylogenetic analysis is performed under maximum likelihood and Bayesian frameworks on individual genes and several alternate concatenated datasets, which are used to investigate the effects of inclusion or exclusion of COI and intronic regions. The timing of Stenamma evolution is inferred in beast and ancestral areas are reconstructed using both the s-diva and DEC methods, as implemented in the programs rasp and lagrange, respectively. Stenamma is revealed as monophyletic with high support and tentatively is sister to a group of New World species placed currently in Aphaenogaster Mayr and Messor Forel. Within Stenamma, two major clades are recovered: a ‘Holarctic clade’ (HOC) and a ‘Middle American clade’ (MAC). The HOC consists of the European S. striatulum Emery sister to two well-supported groups, the informal ‘debile’ and ‘brevicorne’ clades. The ‘brevicorne’ clade is entirely Nearctic, whereas the ‘debile’ clade includes both Nearctic and Palaearctic representatives. The MAC occurs from the southern United States to northern South America and, with the exception of S. huachucanum Smith, is almost completely isolated geographically from the HOC. It includes a depauperate northern clade and the ‘MAC core’, which is a diverse assemblage of wet forest adapted species found throughout Central America. Divergence dating and biogeographic reconstruction show that Stenamma is most likely to have originated in the Nearctic at the Eocene–Oligocene boundary (∼35 Ma) and diversified more rapidly at 16 and 8 Ma for the HOC and MAC, respectively. Potential environmental factors affecting the evolution of Stenamma include the intense global cooling of the late Eocene combined with aridification and mountain building. The phylogenetic results are discussed in relation to the current Stenamma species groups and several new morphological characters are presented to help in identification.

The myrmicine ant genus Stenamma Westwood is redefined and a new diagnosis of the worker caste is presented. Justified by both morphology and molecular data, two species are removed from Stenamma and transferred to the genus Lordomyrma Emery: L. bhutanensis (Baroni Urbani) comb. n. and L. sinensis (Ma, Xu, Makio & DuBois) comb. n. Based on compelling differences in morphology, a third species originally described in Stenamma is transferred to the genus Propodilobus gen. n.: P. pingorum (DuBois) comb. n. Molecular results also indicate that Stenamma, as newly defined here, is a monophyletic genus that forms a clade with Aphaenogaster Mayr and Messor Forel. Additional notes on the diversity and distributions of Stenamma, Lordomyrma, and Propodilobus are provided.

Genus Stenamma Westwood, 1839: 219 Stenamma expolitum M.R. Smith, 1962: 36. Paratypes: 2W, COSTA RICA, Santa Clara Prov[ince], Colombiana Farm, iii-iv.1924, W.M. Mann col., # USMN 65967. One worker missing A1; one worker missing A1 4º to 11º segment of funiculus, L1 femur to tarsi., Published as part of Ulysséa, Mônica Antunes, Prado, Lívia P. & Brandão, Carlos Roberto F., 2015, Type specimens of the traditional Myrmicinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) ant tribes deposited in the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil: Adelomyrmecini, Basicerotini, Blepharidatt ini, Crematogastrini, Formicoxenini, Lenomyrmecini, Myrmicini, Phalacromyrmecini, Pheidolini, Stegomyrmecini, Stenammini and Tetramoriini, pp. 175-204 in Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia (São Paulo) (São Paulo) 55 (12) on page 194, DOI: 10.1590/0031-1049.2015.55.12, http://zenodo.org/record/4656343, {"references":["WESTWOOD, J. O. 1839. An Introduction to the Modern Classification of Insects; founded on the natural habits and corresponding organization of the different families. London, Longman. v. 2.","SMITH, M. R. 1962. A remarkable new Stenamma from Costa Rica, with pertinent facts on other Mexican and Central American species. Journal of the New York Entomological Society, 70: 33 - 38."]}

A total of three species in the genus Stenamma are reported from Korea. Among them, S. ussuriensis Arnol'di is new to the Korean peninsula. In addition, we add the first locality record of S. owstoni from South Korea. The SEM photos and illustrations of the workers of each species are provided.

Ground-dwelling ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) were sampled at 29 sites in 26 counties in Georgia with pitfall traps, leaf litter extraction, visual searching, and bait stations. We found 96 ant taxa including nine species not previously reported from Georgia: Myrmica americana Weber, M. pinetorum Wheeler, M. punctiventris Roger, M. spatulata Smith, Pyramica wrayi (Brown), Stenamma brevicorne (Mayr), S. diecki Emery, S. impar Forel, and S. schmitti Wheeler, as well as three apparently undescribed species (Myrmica sp. and two Stenamma spp.). Combined with previous published records and museum records, we increased the total number of ground-dwelling ants known from Georgia to 144 taxa.

The numerical sex ratios of the facultatively polygynous ant Stenamma debile summed over several collecting sites in southern Germany were 255 males/gyne in 1997, 1.69 males/gyne in 1998 and 5.59 males/gyne in 1999. A large number of female sexuals were produced in queenless colonies, suggesting an inhibitive effect of queens on the production of gynes. Production of males and new workers varied little between the three study years. Production of sexuals plus workers covaried with queen number and worker number. Sex ratio was negatively associated with queen number and positively correlated with total sexual production. Between-year variation of sex ratios is probably correlated with differences in environmental conditions.¶Several mated young queens were found in colonies after the mating seasons in every year. Recruitment of queens was very low in the summer of 1997, and only two of 115 queens from 28 colonies appeared to be young, recently adopted queens. In contrast, 17 young and 59 older queens were collected from 26 colonies in fall 1999. Queen number thus increased by 28.8 % in 1999, but over all three years of 325 queens only 11.4 % were young queens. Incipient colonies with single queens were never observed. Colony structure and productivity of S. debile, as in other ants, apparently vary considerably over periods of several years. Census data from one particular year, and even from three consecutive years, were not sufficient to clarify the causes of variation in sex allocation.

Monogynous and a high proportion of truly polygynous colonies of Stenamma debile were found in populations of this small and inconspicuous ant in southern Germany. Moreover, dissections revealed that queens of different age may co-occur in one nest. Thus polygyny is not only an outcome of pleometrosis. Probably young queens sometimes join the mother colonies.¶Practically no female sexuals were reared in the 1997 brood of 29 colonies, thus a population-level sex ratio of 251♂♂/1♀ was recorded. It is likely that such an extreme sex ratio is atypical for this species, suggesting substantial year-to-year variation in sex ratios. Variation of sex ratios over several years has been reported for other ant species, too, but rarely to such an extent. The reason for the failure of queen production in 1997 was perhaps an unusual sequence of warm and cold periods in the spring which may have caused a re-determination of the queen-destined hibernated larvae to become workers, while male larvae were reared in ordinary numbers.

The karyotype and external morphology of Leptothorax (Myrafant) ants, taken from nests at nine ‘Leptothorax tuberum’ localities in England and Wales, identifies them all as L. tuberointerruptus. Their karyotype differs in chromosome number and chromosome morphology from the karyotypes of morphologically similar European Leptothorax (Myrafant) species including L. tuberum, but matches the karyotype shared by L. tuberointerruptus and L. rougeti. Worker propodeal spine length, and worker propodeal spine shape coupled with worker gaster banding characteristics, distinguish the nest samples from L. rougeti. The presence of L. tuberointerruptus in Britain is therefore confirmed, and the data demonstrate this ant's occurrence throughout the British range attributed to L. tuberum. In the absence of equivalent data identifying L. tuberum as a British species, it may reasonably be assumed that L. tuberointerruptus has been misrecorded as L. tuberum in Britain and that all British mainland records of L. tuberum refer to L. tuberointerruptus. An examination of the syntypes of Stenamma albipennis shows that S. albipennis and L. tuberointerruptus are synonymous, and that L. albipennis is the senior name. It follows that L. albipennis is a scarce British ant of ‘Notable B’ conservation status. A taxonomic synopsis for L. albipennis is given.

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. By inferring a broad-scale molecular phylogeny of Stenamma, Branstetter (2012) showed that all Neotropical species belong to a diverse Middle American clade (MAC), and that this clade is sister to an almost completely geographically separated Holarctic clade (HOC). Here, the Middle American clade of Stenamma is revised to recognize 40 species, of which 33 are described as new. Included in the revision are a key to species based on the worker caste, and for each species where possible, descriptions and images of workers and queens, images of males, information on geographic distribution, descriptions of intraspecific variation, and notes on natural history. Several species groups are defined, but the majority of species remain unassigned due to a lack of diagnostic morphological character states for most molecular clades. The following species are redescribed: S. alas Longino, S. diversum Mann, S. expolitum Smith, S. felixi Mann, S. huachucanum Smith, S. manni Wheeler, and S. schmidti Menozzi. The following are described as new: S. andersoni sp. n., S. atribellum sp. n., S. brujita sp. n., S. callipygium sp. n., S. catracho sp. n., S. connectum sp. n., S. crypticum sp. n., S. cusuco sp. n., S. excisum sp. n., S. expolitico sp. n., S. hojarasca sp. n., S. ignotum sp. n., S. lagunum sp. n., S. llama sp. n., S. leptospinum sp. n., S. lobinodus sp. n., S. longinoi sp. n., S. maximon sp. n., S. megamanni sp. n., S. monstrosum sp. n., S. muralla sp. n., S. nanozoi sp. n., S. nonotch sp. n., S. ochrocnemis sp. n., S. pelophilum sp. n., S. picopicucha sp. n., S. saenzae sp. n., S. sandinista sp. n., S. stictosomum sp. n., S. tiburon sp. n., S. tico sp. n., S. vexator sp. n., and S. zelum sp. n. Although many of the newly defined species consist of challenging species complexes, this study establishes a robust baseline that will guide future work on the systematics of MAC Stenamma. The total global diversity of Stenamma now includes 84 extant species.

Stenamma meridionale Smith M.R., 1957 Distribution in North Carolina: All regions. Counties: AV, BA, CB, CU, CV, DD, GS, YY (material examined) and CR, DU, HW, IR, ME, MO, OR, RW, SW, WK (in literature). Distribution in surrounding states: GA (Smith 1957), SC (Smith 1957), TN (Smith 1957, Lessard et al. 2007) and VA (Smith 1957)., Published as part of Guénard, Benoit, Mccaffrey, Katherine A., Lucky, Andrea & Dunn, Rob R., 2012, Ants of North Carolina: an updated list (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), pp. 1-36 in Zootaxa 3552 on page 28, {"references":["Smith, M. R. (1957) Revision of the genus Stenamma Westwood in America north of Mexico (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). American Midland Naturalist, 57, 133 - 174.","Lessard, J. P., Dunn, R. R., Parker, C. R. & Sanders, N. J. (2007) Rarity and diversity in forest ant assemblages of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Southeastern Naturalist, 1, 215 - 218."]}

Stenamma schmittii Wheeler, 1903 Distribution in North Carolina: Western part of the state. Counties: AV, WT (material examined) and BN, DU, HW, JA, MA, SW, TR, YY (in literature). Distribution in surrounding states: GA (Ipser et al. 2004), SC (Davies 2009), TN (Smith 1957, Lessard et al. 2007) and VA (Smith 1957)., Published as part of Guénard, Benoit, Mccaffrey, Katherine A., Lucky, Andrea & Dunn, Rob R., 2012, Ants of North Carolina: an updated list (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), pp. 1-36 in Zootaxa 3552 on page 28, {"references":["Ipser, R. M., Brinkman, M. A., Gardner, W. A. & Peeler, H. B. (2004) A survey of ground-dwelling ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Georgia. Florida Entomologist, 87, 253 - 260.","Davies, T. S. (2009) The ants of South Carolina. PhD thesis, Clemson University 290 pages.","Smith, M. R. (1957) Revision of the genus Stenamma Westwood in America north of Mexico (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). American Midland Naturalist, 57, 133 - 174.","Lessard, J. P., Dunn, R. R., Parker, C. R. & Sanders, N. J. (2007) Rarity and diversity in forest ant assemblages of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Southeastern Naturalist, 1, 215 - 218."]}

Stenamma diecki Emery, 1895 Distribution in North Carolina: Appalachian Mountains. Counties: AV (material examined) and BN, HE, HW, JA, MA, SW, TR (in literature). Distribution in surrounding states: GA (Smith 1957, Ipser et al. 2004), TN (Dennis 1938, Smith 1957, Lessard et al. 2007) and VA (Smith 1957). Stenamma foveolocephalum Smith M.R., 1930 (rarely collected species) Distribution in North Carolina: Piedmont Plateau. County: RI (in literature). Species described as Stenamma carolinense by Smith (1951) is now considered a junior synonym of S. foveolocaphalum (Bolton 2011). Distribution in surrounding states: Unknown from surrounding states., Published as part of Guénard, Benoit, Mccaffrey, Katherine A., Lucky, Andrea & Dunn, Rob R., 2012, Ants of North Carolina: an updated list (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), pp. 1-36 in Zootaxa 3552 on page 27, {"references":["Smith, M. R. (1957) Revision of the genus Stenamma Westwood in America north of Mexico (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). American Midland Naturalist, 57, 133 - 174.","Ipser, R. M., Brinkman, M. A., Gardner, W. A. & Peeler, H. B. (2004) A survey of ground-dwelling ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Georgia. Florida Entomologist, 87, 253 - 260.","Dennis, C. A. (1938) The distribution of ant species in Tennessee with reference to ecological factors. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 31, 267 - 308.","Lessard, J. P., Dunn, R. R., Parker, C. R. & Sanders, N. J. (2007) Rarity and diversity in forest ant assemblages of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Southeastern Naturalist, 1, 215 - 218.","Smith, M. R. (1951) A new species of Stenamma from North Carolina (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 53, 156 - 158."]}

Stenamma brevicorne (Mayr, 1866) * Distribution in North Carolina: All regions. Counties: AV, CR, MR, OR, RB, ST, WK, WT (material examined) and BN, HW (in literature). Distribution in surrounding states: GA (Ipser et al. 2004), SC (Davies 2009), TN (Lessard et al. 2007) and VA (Smith 1957, Kjar 2009)., Published as part of Guénard, Benoit, Mccaffrey, Katherine A., Lucky, Andrea & Dunn, Rob R., 2012, Ants of North Carolina: an updated list (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), pp. 1-36 in Zootaxa 3552 on page 27, {"references":["Ipser, R. M., Brinkman, M. A., Gardner, W. A. & Peeler, H. B. (2004) A survey of ground-dwelling ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Georgia. Florida Entomologist, 87, 253 - 260.","Davies, T. S. (2009) The ants of South Carolina. PhD thesis, Clemson University 290 pages.","Lessard, J. P., Dunn, R. R., Parker, C. R. & Sanders, N. J. (2007) Rarity and diversity in forest ant assemblages of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Southeastern Naturalist, 1, 215 - 218.","Smith, M. R. (1957) Revision of the genus Stenamma Westwood in America north of Mexico (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). American Midland Naturalist, 57, 133 - 174.","Kjar, D. S. (2009) The ant community of a Riparian Forest in the Dyke Marsh Preserve, Fairfax County, Virginia, and a checklist of Mid-Atlantic Formicidae. Banisteria, 33, 3 - 17."]}

Stenamma sp. ir-talysh-01 Material: 1 $, Caspian Hyrcanian mixed forests, Talysh (37��40'44''N, 48��48'27''E), 869 m asl, 7.VII.2008, leg. Omid Paknia. Remarks: Stenamma is a small genus, comprising about 50 species distributed mainly in the Holarctic Region, but some of which penetrated into Central America, India and Pakistan (Himalayan region), and Southeast Asia. The highest species richness of this genus occurs in the rather warm and humid deciduous Holarctic forests, many of which can be considered relict habitats. Stenamma is also quite speciose in Caucasian and Anatolia forests (Arnoldi 1975; DuBois 1998). This genus is new to Iran., Published as part of Paknia, O., Radchenko, A. & Pfeiffer, M., 2010, New records of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Iran., pp. 29-38 in Asian Myrmecology 3 on page 34

Stenamma Westwood Stenamma Westwood, 1839: 219. Type-species: Stenamma westwoodii, by monotypy. Asemorhoptrum Mayr, 1861: 76. Type-species: Myrmica lippula, by monotypy. [Synonymy with Stenamma by Andr��, 1883: 310.] Theryella Santschi, 1921: 68. Type-species: Theryella myops (provisional junior synonym of Stenamma punctiventre), by monotypy. [Synonymy with Stenamma by Santschi, 1923: 136.] Diagnosis of Stenamma. A new diagnosis of the Stenamma worker caste is presented followed by a short discussion on interspecific variation and how to distinguish Stenamma from closely related genera. The classification of Bolton (2003) placed Stenamma within the tribe Stenammini, which, as currently defined, is not monophyletic (Brady et al. 2006; Moreau et al. 2006). Stenamma instead is more closely related to the genera Aphaenogaster Mayr and Messor Forel, suggesting that the older tribal classification of Emery (1921), which included these genera together, should be reconsidered. Some of the characters mentioned here may help to diagnose the group formed by Stenamma, Aphaenogaster, and Messor. Standard images of Stenamma representing species from different biogeographic regions are shown in Figures 2���16. Diagnosis of the Stenamma worker caste. With characters of the Myrmicinae as described by Bolton (2003), and the following more specific features: 1. Mandible triangular to elongate triangular; masticatory margin usually with 6���8 teeth or denticles (rarely 9 or 10) which decrease in size irregularly from apex to base; teeth on basal half frequently reduced and poorly defined. 2. Palp formula 4,3. 3. Apex of anterior clypeal margin with a small to prominent notch or concavity, never smoothly convex or with a projecting tooth. 4. Anterior clypeal margin usually lacking a strong isolated median seta. 5. Median portion of clypeus often longitudinally bicarinate and with area between carinae slightly to strongly depressed. 6. Posteromedial margin of clypeus narrowed and prolonged backward between frontal lobes; width not exceeding that of frontal lobes in full-face view. 7. Frontal lobes small and closely approximated, not entirely covering antennal insertions. 8. Antennal scrobes and frontal carinae absent. 9. Torular lobe present and visible in full-face view projecting over condylar bulb. 10. Compound eyes located slightly to distinctly in front of midlength of side of head (excluding mandibles), small to moderate in size, usually with 2���12 ommatidia across greatest diameter. 11. Antenna 12 segmented and terminating in a distinct to indistinct 4 -segmented club (ACI 60-70). 12. Posteroventral corners of head lacking grooves. 13. Promesonotum convex in profile, often low domed-convex and very prominent; faint impression or line marking track of former promesonotal suture sometimes present dorsally. 14. Metanotal groove present. 15. Propodeum usually armed with a pair of teeth or short spines (rarely unarmed or with long spines). 16. Propodeal lobes present and prominent, rounded to quadrate in shape, never long and projecting dorsally. 17. Middle and hind tibiae lacking spurs. 18. Pretarsal claws small, simple. 19. Petiole with a long, anterior peduncle and sometimes with an anteroventral process. 20. Postpetiole with short peduncle and low node often slightly longer than broad, never distinctively broader than long. 21. Postpetiolar node always wider than petiolar node. 22. Basigastral striae often present on anterior margin of abdominal tergite 4. 23. Metasternal process present and often well developed., Published as part of Branstetter, Michael G., 2009, The ant genus Stenamma Westwood (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) redefined, with a description of a new genus Propodilobus, pp. 41-57 in Zootaxa 2221 on pages 42-43, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.190065, {"references":["Bolton, B. (2003) Synopsis and classification of Formicidae. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute, Gainesville, Florida, 370 pp.","Brady, S. G., Schultz, T. R., Fisher, B. L. & Ward, P. S. (2006) Evaluating alternative hypotheses for the early evolution and diversification of ants. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 103, 18172 - 18177.","Moreau, C. S., Bell, C. D., Vila, R., Archiblad, S. B. & Pierce, N. E. (2006) Phylogeny of the ants: Diversification in the age of the angiosperms. Science, 312, 101 - 104."]}

Stenamma Westwood Stenamma Westwood, 1839: 219. Type-species: Stenamma westwoodii, by monotypy. Asemorhoptrum Mayr, 1861: 76. Type-species: Myrmica lippula, by monotypy. [Synonymy with Stenamma by Andre, 1883: 310.] Theryella Santschi, 1921: 68. Type-species: Theryella myops (provisional junior synonym of Stenamma punctiventre), by monotypy. [Synonymy with Stenamma by Santschi, 1923: 136.] Diagnosis of Stenamma. A new diagnosis of the Stenamma worker caste is presented followed by a short discussion on interspecific variation and how to distinguish Stenamma from closely related genera. The classification of Bolton (2003) placed Stenamma within the tribe Stenammini, which, as currently defined, is not monophyletic (Brady et al. 2006; Moreau et al. 2006). Stenamma instead is more closely related to the genera Aphaenogaster Mayr and Messor Forel, suggesting that the older tribal classification of Emery (1921), which included these genera together, should be reconsidered. Some of the characters mentioned here may help to diagnose the group formed by Stenamma, Aphaenogaster, and Messor. Standard images of Stenamma representing species from different biogeographic regions are shown in Figures 2-16. Diagnosis of the Stenamma worker caste. With characters of the Myrmicinae as described by Bolton (2003), and the following more specific features: 1. Mandible triangular to elongate triangular; masticatory margin usually with 6-8 teeth or denticles (rarely 9 or 10) which decrease in size irregularly from apex to base; teeth on basal half frequently reduced and poorly defined. 2. Palp formula 4,3. 3. Apex of anterior clypeal margin with a small to prominent notch or concavity, never smoothly convex or with a projecting tooth. 4. Anterior clypeal margin usually lacking a strong isolated median seta. 5. Median portion of clypeus often longitudinally bicarinate and with area between carinae slightly to strongly depressed. 6. Posteromedial margin of clypeus narrowed and prolonged backward between frontal lobes; width not exceeding that of frontal lobes in full-face view. 7. Frontal lobes small and closely approximated, not entirely covering antennal insertions. 8. Antennal scrobes and frontal carinae absent. 9. Torular lobe present and visible in full-face view projecting over condylar bulb. 10. Compound eyes located slightly to distinctly in front of midlength of side of head (excluding mandibles), small to moderate in size, usually with 2-12 ommatidia across greatest diameter. 11. Antenna 12 segmented and terminating in a distinct to indistinct 4-segmented club (ACI 60-70). 12. Posteroventral corners of head lacking grooves. 13. Promesonotum convex in profile, often low domed-convex and very prominent; faint impression or line marking track of former promesonotal suture sometimes present dorsally. 14. Metanotal groove present. 15. Propodeum usually armed with a pair of teeth or short spines (rarely unarmed or with long spines). 16. Propodeal lobes present and prominent, rounded to quadrate in shape, never long and projecting dorsally. 17. Middle and hind tibiae lacking spurs. 18. Pretarsal claws small, simple. 19. Petiole with a long, anterior peduncle and sometimes with an anteroventral process. 20. Postpetiole with short peduncle and low node often slightly longer than broad, never distinctively broader than long. 21. Postpetiolar node always wider than petiolar node. 22. Basigastral striae often present on anterior margin of abdominal tergite 4. 23. Metasternal process present and often well developed. Comments on worker characters 3. The structure of the clypeus varies greatly among species of Stenamma and has been useful for distinguishing species groups in western North America (Snelling 1973) and will likely be useful for distinguishing Neotropical groups (pers. obs.; Figures 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17-20). The concavity is easy to observe in all species except for those belonging to the smithi group (S. chiricahua,S. punctatoventre, S. smithi). In this group, a median lobe projects over the clypeal margin, obscuring the concavity. The best way to observe this character in the smithi group is in a ventral view of the head (as in Figure 20). 4. Several species commonly display a short- to medium-sized median seta that is located between two longer setae. It is never stouter or longer than the two surrounding setae. This character has been observed in S. brevicorne,S. debile, S. heathi, S. owstoni, S. sequoiarum, and S. smithi. Additionally, as observed by Bolton (2003), the median seta can be variable among specimens within a nest series. 5. There are many exceptions to this character among Neotropical species. Stenamma. alas, S. diversum, and S. expolitum completely lack clypeal carinae (Figures 11, 14). Most other Neotropical taxa have only faint carinae and lack a strong median depression. 7. The frontal lobes are expanded laterally in S. diversum, covering the torular lobe in full-face view (Figure 14). 11. This character can be difficult to assess when looking at a single specimen with an indistinct club. However, Stenamma never has a distinct 2- or 3-segmented antennal club and in all observed specimens, it is possible to see a marked increase in antennal segment length between segments 8 and 9, indicating the beginning of the club. This is captured by the antennal club index (ACI) which is never more than 70, i.e., the last two antennal segments make up no more than 70% of the total length of the last four segments. 15. Only Neotropical species are completely unarmed or have long projecting spines. The former state is exhibited by S. expolitum (Figure 12) and S. alas and the latter by S. diversum (Figure 15). 19.Neotropical species lack a strongly projecting anteroventral petiolar process. 22. Most Holarctic species have short basigastral striae. Neotropical species usually have carinae around the girdling constriction separating the pre- and postsclerites of the third abdominal segment, but never have striae extending further onto the tergites or sternites of the gaster (compare Figures 22 and 24). 23. This character appears to be present only in Holarctic species. Neotropical species have a small raised area, but it is never elongated into a distinct process (compare Figures 21 and 23). Comments on similarities and differences among Stenamma, Aphaenogaster, and Messor Aphaenogaster and Messor show greater morphological variation than Stenamma and differ from Stenamma in characters 5, 6, 10, 11, 17, and 22. The most notable difference is the structure of the clypeus. In both Aphaenogaster and Messor, the posteromedial portion of the clypeus is broadly inserted between the frontal lobes and when looked at in full-face view is generally much wider than either lobe at the broadest point. Additionally, along the apical margin of the clypeus, Aphaenogaster and Messor tend to have a row of setae, which are much stouter than the setae observed in Stenamma. Notable similarities among the genera also exist. In most species of all three genera, the frontal lobes do not completely cover the antennal insertions, allowing the torular lobes to be visible in full-face view. Aphaenogaster and Messor have an ACI that is even lower than Stenamma (53-57); however, many species have a distinct to indistinct 4-segmented antennal club. In some species the club is not distinctly broader or longer that the previous segments, but is covered with a denser layer of setae, sometimes giving these segments a noticeably lighter color. Lastly, like Stenamma, some species of Aphaenogaster and Messor have meso- and metasternal processes. Synonymic list of species Assignment of species to species groups follows Snelling (1973) for Nearctic species and DuBois (1998) for Palearctic species. Nearctic Species brevicorne group brevicorne (Mayr, 1886) = neoarcticum Mayr, 1886 chiricahua Snelling, 1973 punctatoventre Snelling, 1973 smithi Cole, 1966 = knowltoni Gregg, 1972 diecki group diecki Emery, 1895 = diecki impressum Buren, 1944 snellingi Bolton, 1995 = occidentale Smith, 1957 (homonym) sequoiarum Wheeler, 1917 californicum Snelling, 1973 dyscheres Snelling, 1973 heathi group heathi Wheeler, 1915 exasperatum Snelling, 1973 huachucanum group huachucanum Smith, 1957 wheelerorum group wheelerorum Snelling, 1973 Currently unassigned schmittii Wheeler, 1903 impar Forel, 1901 meridionale Smith, 1957 foveolocephalum Smith, 1930 = carolinense Smith, 1951 Neotropical species Currently unassigned alas Longino, 2005 expolitum Smith, 1962 diversum Mann, 1922 felixi Mann, 1922 manni Wheeler, 1941 schmidti Menozzi, 1931 Palearctic Species owstoni group kurilense Arnol'di, 1975 nipponense Yasumatsu & Murakami, 1960 ussuriense Arnol'di, 1975 gurkhalis DuBois, 1998 koreanense Lyu, DuBois, & Cho, 2002 owstoni Wheeler, 1906 punctiventre group punctiventre Emery, 1908 = myops Santschi, 1921 westwoodii group debile (Foerster, 1850) = minkii (Foerster, 1850) = westwoodii polonicum Begdon, 1932 = golosojevi Karavaiev, 1926 = ucrainicum Arnol'di, 1928 georgii Arnol'di, 1975 hissarianum Arnol'di, 1975 kashmirense Urbani, 1977 jeriorum DuBois, 1998 lippulum (Nylander, 1849) = hirtulum Emery, 1898 = caucasicum Arnol'di, 1975 msilanum Forel, 1901 = africanum Santschi, 1939 = africanum submuticum Santschi, 1939 petiolatum Emery, 1897 picetojuglandeti Arnol'di, 1975 sardoum Emery, 1915 sogdianum Arnol'di, 1975 striatulum Emery, 1895 = tscherkessicum Arnol'di, 1928 westwoodii Westwood, 1839 orousseti Casevitz-weulersse, 1990 Species incertae sedis berendti (Mayr, 1868) [fossil] westwoodii asiaticum Ruzsky, 1905, Published as part of Branstetter, M. G., 2009, The ant genus Stenamma Westwood (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) redefined, with a description of a new genus Propodilobus., pp. 41-57 in Zootaxa 2221 on pages 42-46

Propodilobus gen. n. (Figures 41-44) Type species: Stenamma pingorum DuBois (replacement name for Stenamma orientale, junior homonym). Gender: Masculine Etymology: The name is descriptive of the prominent propodeal lobes found on the type specimen. It is a combination of propodeum, which is the first abdominal segment in apocritan Hymenoptera, and lobus, L., meaning lobe. Diagnosis of worker. With characters of the Myrmicinae as described by Bolton (2003), and the following more specific features: 1. Mandibles elongate triangular with 6 teeth which decrease in size irregularly from apex to base; teeth on basal half reduced and poorly defined. 2. Palp formula 3,2. 3. Apex of anterior clypeal margin smoothly convex. 4. Anterior clypeal margin lacking a strong isolated median seta. 5. Median portion of clypeus lacking longitudinal carinae. 6. Posteromedial margin of clypeus narrowed and prolonged backward between frontal lobes. 7. Frontal lobes small and closely approximated, not entirely covering antennal insertions. 8. Antennal scrobes and frontal carinae absent. 9. Antenna 12 segmented and terminating in a distinct 3-segmented club (ACI 74-75). 10. Promesonotum convex and prominent in profile. 11. Metanotal groove present. 12. Propodeum armed with a pair of well-developed spines. 13. Propodeal lobes present and elongate, bluntly triangular in shape and directed posterodorsally; space between lobes and propodeal spines distinctly U-shaped. 14. Middle and hind tibiae lacking spurs. 15. Pretarsal claws small, simple. 16. Petiole with a long, anterior peduncle; anteroventral process lacking. 17. Postpetiole broader than long. Discussion. Propodilobus can be distinguished from Stenamma by the reduced palp formula (3,2 versus 4,3), smoothly convex anterior clypeal margin, distinct 3-segmented antennal club (ACI 74-75 versus 60-70), and elongate propodeal lobes. In addition, the postpetiole is broader than long and the scape and funiculus of Propodilobus have a more robust appearance than in Stenamma. Propodilobus may be confused with Lordomyrma since Lordomyrma is morphologically diverse and currently lacks an adequate diagnosis. It is possible that when a more comprehensive morphological review of Lordomyrma is undertaken or the phylogenetic position of Propodilobus is tested with molecular data, Propodilobus will be synonymized under Lordomyrma or a related genus. Despite this, from the diagnoses listed in Sarnat (2006) and Taylor (2009), Propodilobus can be distinguished from Lordomyrma by its lack of longitudinal carinae on the clypeus, lack of scrobes and frontal carinae, the presence of an elongate petiolar peduncle, and the presence of elongate propodeal lobes. Describing a new genus from a few specimens of one species should generally be avoided. However, no currently described genera have the above combination of characters and in an effort to create a monophyletic Stenamma, I believe that this action is defensible. In addition, by erecting a new genus, there might be greater interest in discovering new material for future systematics studies. Distribution. As reported in DuBois (1998), P. pingorum is known only from two localities on the island of Borneo in Sarawak, Malaysia. These are the type locality (listed below) and Fourth Division, Gunong Mulu National Park (Feb 1978, N.M. Collins, BMNH)., Published as part of Branstetter, M. G., 2009, The ant genus Stenamma Westwood (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) redefined, with a description of a new genus Propodilobus., pp. 41-57 in Zootaxa 2221 on pages 54-55

Summary of Stenamma distribution and diversity As defined here, Stenamma includes 45 extant, described species. Seventeen are Nearctic, 22 are Palearctic, and 6 are Neotropical. 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.

Stenamma sp. cf. snellingi, Published as part of Ward, P. S., 2005, A synoptic review of the ants of California (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)., pp. 1-68 in Zootaxa 936 on pages 1-68

Stenamma sp. 2 cf. punctatoventre E1 [endemic to California], E2 [endemic to California floristic province (Hickman, 1993)], Published as part of Ward, P. S., 2005, A synoptic review of the ants of California (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)., pp. 1-68 in Zootaxa 936 on pages 1-68

Stenamma sp. CA-01 E1 [endemic to California], E2 [endemic to California floristic province (Hickman, 1993)]

Stenamma punctatoventre Snelling 1973c, Published as part of Ward, P. S., 2005, A synoptic review of the ants of California (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)., pp. 1-68 in Zootaxa 936 on pages 1-68

Genus Stenamma Westwood The species in this genus nest in soil and rotting wood, usually in mesic habitats. Stenamma workers have rather cryptic foraging habits, and are often encountered in litter samples. California appears to a center of ongoing diversification for the group, resulting in a number of taxonomic difficulties. For identification purposes the images on AntWeb should be examined in consultation with the keys in Snelling (1973 c). Species identification: keys in Snelling (1973 c). Additional references: Cole (1966 b), DuBois (1998), Smith (1957 b), Wheeler and Wheeler (1986g)., Published as part of Ward, P. S., 2005, A synoptic review of the ants of California (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), pp. 1-68 in Zootaxa 936 on pages 36-37, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.171144, {"references":["Snelling, R. R. (1973 c) Studies on California ants. 7. The genus Stenamma (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Contributions in Science (Los Angeles), 245, 1 - 38.","Cole, A. C., Jr. (1966 b) Ants of the Nevada Test Site. Brigham Young University Science Bulletin. Biological Series, 7 (3), 1 - 27.","DuBois, M. B. (1998) A revision of the ant genus Stenamma in the Palaearctic and Oriental regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae). Sociobiology, 32, 193 - 403.","Smith, M. R. (1957 b) Revision of the genus Stenamma Westwood in America north of Mexico (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). American Midland Naturalist, 57, 133 - 174.","Wheeler, G. C. & Wheeler, J. (1986 g) The ants of Nevada. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, vii + 138 pp."]}

Stenamma sp. cf. heathi E1 [endemic to California], E2 [endemic to California floristic province (Hickman, 1993)], Published as part of Ward, P. S., 2005, A synoptic review of the ants of California (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)., pp. 1-68 in Zootaxa 936 on pages 1-68

Stenamma smithi Cole 1966b, Published as part of Ward, P. S., 2005, A synoptic review of the ants of California (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)., pp. 1-68 in Zootaxa 936 on pages 1-68

Stenamma sequoiarum Wheeler 1917a E1 [endemic to California], E2 [endemic to California floristic province (Hickman, 1993)], Published as part of Ward, P. S., 2005, A synoptic review of the ants of California (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)., pp. 1-68 in Zootaxa 936 on pages 1-68

Stenamma sp. 1 cf. punctatoventre E1 [endemic to California], E2 [endemic to California floristic province (Hickman, 1993)], Published as part of Ward, P. S., 2005, A synoptic review of the ants of California (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)., pp. 1-68 in Zootaxa 936 on pages 1-68

Stenamma sp. cf. diecki E1 [endemic to California], E2 [endemic to California floristic province (Hickman, 1993)], Published as part of Ward, P. S., 2005, A synoptic review of the ants of California (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)., pp. 1-68 in Zootaxa 936 on pages 1-68

Stenamma dyscheres Snelling 1973c E1 [endemic to California], E2 [endemic to California floristic province (Hickman, 1993)], Published as part of Ward, P. S., 2005, A synoptic review of the ants of California (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)., pp. 1-68 in Zootaxa 936 on pages 1-68

Stenamma sp. 3 cf. punctatoventre E1 [endemic to California], E2 [endemic to California floristic province (Hickman, 1993)], Published as part of Ward, P. S., 2005, A synoptic review of the ants of California (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)., pp. 1-68 in Zootaxa 936 on pages 1-68

Stenamma californicum Snelling 1973c, Published as part of Ward, P. S., 2005, A synoptic review of the ants of California (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)., pp. 1-68 in Zootaxa 936 on pages 1-68

Stenamma heathi Wheeler 1915b E2 [endemic to California floristic province (Hickman, 1993)], Published as part of Ward, P. S., 2005, A synoptic review of the ants of California (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)., pp. 1-68 in Zootaxa 936 on pages 1-68

Stenamma exasperatum Snelling 1973c E1 [endemic to California], E2 [endemic to California floristic province (Hickman, 1993)], Published as part of Ward, P. S., 2005, A synoptic review of the ants of California (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)., pp. 1-68 in Zootaxa 936 on pages 1-68

The first annotated checklist of the ants of Turkey is presented. A total of 306 valid names of species-group taxa (286 species, 20 subspecies) is recorded based on literature records and additional newly collected material carried out since 1998. Synonyms are included. New localities are added for some poorly known species. Four species (Tapinoma subboreale, Formica georgica, Formica lugubris and Lasius balcanicus) are reported for the first time and thirteen species (Bothriomyrmex atlantis, B. meridionalis, Tapinoma madeirense, Camponotus robustus, Formica fuscocinerea, F. gagatoides, Rossomyrmex minuchae, Messor barbarus, Monomorium glabrum, M. salomonis, Myrmica vandeli, Stenamma westwoodii and Tetramorium forte) are excluded from the list of Turkish ants.

Lordomyrma is recorded for the first time from India and mainland southeast Asia. The Japanese L. azumai is reviewedand six new worker-based species described: L. lakshmi (Kerala State, India); L. hmong (Lao Cai Province, Vietnam); L. diwata, L. emarginata and L. idianale (Mt Isarog, Luzon, Philippines) and L. limatula (Leyte, Philippines). Gynes are characterized for L. azumai, L. hmong and L. limatula. All taxa are diagnosed, illustrated, and their affinities discussed.

ECOLOGY/EVOLUTION Ants are ubiquitous in tropical forests, and they exhibit a wide variety of nesting and foraging behaviors that have fascinated naturalists and ecologists ever since the pioneering of scientific exploration in the tropics. Despite many decades of intense study and the high visibility of ants, Longino has managed to unearth previously unreported nesting habits in two endemic Costa Rican ant species in the genus Stenamma . These ants build nests in the vertical clay banks of streams, and the entrance to the nest is formed by a tunnel through the center of a shallow dish sitting atop a pedestal of clay or through a similarly shaped disk of soil lying on a mound of small stones. In both types of dwelling, a spherical pebble near the entrance can be retrieved and used to plug the doorway in times of danger. Each ant colony maintains several such nests, but occupies only one at a time. Because of their colonial habit, ants attract predators, and much of their nesting repertoire revolves around defense. Hence, it appears that the elaborate constructions of Stenamma may minimize the chances of attack by marauding hordes of army ants, which are one of the dominant forces shaping tropical forest ecosystems. — AMS Biotropica 37 , 670 (2005).

queens. The head of a Formica fusca szibsericea worker under my observation, continued to move its antennae seven hours after decapitation. Ants lacking a leg or two may live several weeks. A Stcnamma fulvum worker, deprived of its mesothoracic pair of legs, was returned by me to an artificial nest where were hundreds of its former comrades and it safely lived there a month or more, disproving any general assertion that ants destroy maimed members of their colony. Worker ants deprived of the abdomen sometimes run with great speed, continue to care for the young in the nest, fight with aliens of their own or other species, and they may for some days behave as if unconscious of loss. A Stenamma fulvium queen deprived of her abdomen lived thereafter for fourteen days in one of my artificial nests, and was seen to eat. A Formica subsericea worker lived without her abdomen for five days. M. Charles Janet mentions ' an ant that lived nineteen days after decapitation. In experiments made by me, headless ants have continued to walk about for many days. In all these experiments aseptic surgery was attempted, the instruments used being carefully sterilized. The Petri cells in which the maimed ants were

Although this paper finally treats of measures for the extermi nation of ants, the experiments 1 herein recorded were begun with a view to ascertaining the temperature preferred by ants and con ducing to their rapid development in artificial nests. The ants employed were Lasius lalz@es, yellow, translucent ants, from four to five millimeters long; Stenamma fulvum, brown ants, from six to seven millimeters long; Camponotus pennsyl vanicus, black ants with dense integument, from eight to eigh teen millimeters long. The ants were chosen with reference to color and size, a colony of Camponotus whose members varied exceedingly in stature having been previously captured. A special nest was made, affording opportunity for the ants to choose temperature agreeable to them. It consisted of a copper2 half-cylinder, three centimeters in diameter, in which the central portion of the interior, one meter or forty inches in length, was partitioned from the further extending ends, lined with white blotting paper apart from the copper, and imbedded, concave side upward, in cotton wadding which extended slightly over the edges of the half-cylinder at its sides. The half-cylinder was made level, so that gravity should not influence the behavior of the ants. The central portion was kept dry throughout, that the influence of humidity might be eliminated. It was covered with glass microscope-slides laid transversely, and topped with blotting paper so as to secure uniform darkness within. The layer of wadding between the edge of the copper and the glass roofing admitted sufficient air for the ants to breathe, and left no interstice for their exit. At the right-hand end the bare copper extended beyond the supporting table and was heated by an alcohol flame. At the

14. Stenamma westwoodii Westwood, 1840 Figs. 4,72-75. Stenamma westwoodii Westwood, 1840:83. Worker. Pale to dark rusty red; petiole a simple node with rounded dorsal area, propodeal spines short. Head longitudinally striate in front, alitrunk and back of head with weak reticulate sculpture. Body with erect scattered pale hairs, sparse and decumbent on appendages. Length: 3.5-4.0 mm. Queen. As worker, only slightly larger; wings pale yellowish. Length: 4.2-4.8 mm. Male. Blackish brown with mandibles and appendages lighter; head longitudinally striate, dull; mandibles with 3 teeth; wings as queen. Propodeal spines well developed. Length: 3.8-4.2 mm. (Kutter, 1974, draws attention to the original description from English material where the male mandible is said to have 5 teeth whereas all recent specimens in the British Isles have 3 toothed mandibles). Distribution. Found very locally in Denmark: SZ; Sweden: Sk., Bl., Sm., Gtl. and Vg.; Norway: VA and HO. - Also very locally occurring throughout Southern England to the Midlands, Wales and Southern Ireland. - Range: South and Central Europe from Spain to Caucasus and Italy to South Scandinavia. Biology. This is an unobtrusive species often taken as solitary workers in woodland. Nests consists of up to 150 workers with a single queen. They may be found in dry well drained woodland under deep stones or among tree roots and under moss. Workers forage during early morning or on dull warm days. This species is partly scavenging and partly predatory on small insects and mites but is slow moving and non-aggressive towards other ant species. Alatae are found in the nests from August to late autumn and have been taken on the wing during September and October., Published as part of Collingwood, C. A., 1979, The Formicidae (Hymenoptera) of Fennoscandia and Denmark., pp. 1-174 in Fauna Entomologica Scandinavica 8 on page 60

Genus Stenamma Westwood, 1840 Stenamma Westwood, 1840:83. Type-species: Stenamma westwoodii Westwood, 1840. Worker and queen. Head slightly longer than broad; antennae 12 segmented, scape not reaching as far as occiput; funicular segments 2-10 not longer than broad; palp formula 4:3; frontal ridges narrowly set about a third head width; clypeus bicarinate; eyes conspicuously small. Anterior peduncle conspicuously elongate. Male. Antennae 13 segmented, scape about as long as three or four following segments which are all elongate. Eyes enlarged and set anterior to midline. Mesoscutum with Y shaped notauli. Propodeum armed with two short but distinct teeth. Forewings with one cubital and one discoidal cell. The taxonomy of some European species has been investigated by Kutter (1974). This genus includes about 50 species distributed through the Neotropic, Nearctic and Palaeactic regions with several species in S. Europe. Only one occurs in North and Central Europe., Published as part of Collingwood, C. A., 1979, The Formicidae (Hymenoptera) of Fennoscandia and Denmark., pp. 1-174 in Fauna Entomologica Scandinavica 8 on page 60

Stenamma (Aphaenogaster) sp.? Chine occidentale: Gansu Choj-sjan, 3000 ' h., l [[male]], 7 - 15. V. 1892 (BerezovskIJ!). Je ne puis me hasarder a decrire un [[male]] isole d' Aphaenogaster qui n'a rien de tres saillant., Published as part of Forel, A., 1904, Note sur les fourmis du Musée Zoologique de l'Académie Impériale des Sciences à St. Pétersbourg., pp. 368-388 in Yezhegodnik Zoologicheskogo Muzeya Imperatorskoi Akademii Nauk 8 on page 7, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.25586

V. Santschii n. var. - [[worker]]. - Long. 4 a 8,5 mill. - Ressemble a meridionalis et semirufa. Brune. Abdomen brun fonce. Subdentee. Sauf le metanotum et les cotes du mesonotum qui ont des rides transversales assez laches et regulieres, tout le corps est lisse, ou peu s'en faut (ca et la quelques faibles vestiges de rides ou de reticulations). Premier n oe ud assez mince, un peu concave devant, echancre au sommet. Taille relativement grele. Peu de poils sur le corps. Ceux des tibias et des scapes presque dresses. Kairouan. Si le S. barbarum ne variait pas si enormement, et si cette forme n'etait pas a divers egards voisine des var. semirufa et meridionalis de la race capitatum, on serait tente d'en faire une race ou sous- espece., Published as part of Forel, A., 1905, Miscellanea myrmicologiques, II (1905)., pp. 155-185 in Annales de la Societe Entomologique de Belgique 49 on pages 176-177