Stenammini

Ashmead, 1905

Genus Guides

6

Stenammini is a tribe of myrmicine ants established by Ashmead in 1905, containing six extant (Aphaenogaster, Goniomma, Messor, Novomessor, Oxyopomyrmex, Stenamma, Veromessor) and one fossil genus (†Paraphaenogaster). The tribe includes harvester ants that specialize in seed collection. Phylogenomic studies of the genus Messor indicate an origin in the Irano-Indian region approximately 20 million years ago, with diversification patterns strongly linked to thermal conditions.

Aphaenogaster floridana by (c) April Nobile, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.Veromessor andrei by (c) Jake Nitta, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jake Nitta. Used under a CC-BY license.Veromessor andrei by (c) Jonghyun Park, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jonghyun Park. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Stenammini: //stɛˈnæmɪnaɪ//

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Images

Habitat

Dry environments dominated by seed-producing plants (documented for Messor; broader tribe-level data not available)

Distribution

Irano-Indian area (region of origin for Messor ~20 Mya); broader geographic range for tribe not documented in available sources

Diet

Seeds (harvester ants specialized on ; documented for Messor and noted as characteristic of multiple Stenammini genera)

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Sources and further reading