Stenarella

Szépligeti, 1916

Stenarella is a of in the Cryptinae, subtribe Osprynchotina. The genus is and distributed across the Old World, with three major biogeographic clades corresponding to the Afrotropical, Palearctic, and Oriental–Australasian regions. Eighteen are currently recognized, twelve described as new in a 2025 phylogenomic revision. Species are of that construct nests using mud or earth.

2020 09 06 Stenarella domator bearbeitet by Slimguy. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

2020 09 06 Stenarella domator by Slimguy. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

2020 09 06 Stenarella domator retouched by Photograph: Slimguy
Derivative work: TeKaBe. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Stenarella: //ˌstɛ.nəˈrɛl.lə//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Members of Stenarella belong to the subtribe Osprynchotina and can be distinguished from other Cryptinae using the identification provided in the 2025 phylogenomic revision. The genus has an updated in that work.

Images

Habitat

Associated with nests of that use mud or earth in their construction. Specimens have been collected in national parks and protected forest areas.

Distribution

Afrotropical, Palearctic, and Oriental–Australasian regions. The Afrotropical component comprises fifteen . Outside the Afrotropics, three species have very wide geographic distributions. Stenarella domator is to the western Palaearctic and has been to the Nearctic. Stenarella insidiator has been recorded from Vietnam.

Host Associations

Orancistrocerus aterrimus - ; new record for Stenarella insidiator from Vietnam
aculeate Hymenoptera - of using mud/earth nests; includes Stenarella domator

Life Cycle

Overwinters inside nests.

Behavior

lifestyle. Overwinters within nests.

Ecological Role

of , particularly that construct mud or earth nests.

Human Relevance

Stenarella domator has been to the Nearctic region, representing an with potential implications for .

Similar Taxa

other Osprynchotina generaStenarella is distinguished from other in the subtribe by the updated and identification provided in the 2025 phylogenomic revision.

More Details

Phylogenomic revision

A 2025 phylogenomic study using genomic ultraconserved elements corroborated the of Stenarella and revealed substantial biogeographic structure. The study recognized eighteen valid , twelve described as new, and provided an updated identification to species.

Mud-nesting host specialization

in this , consistent with other Osprynchotina, are specialized on that use mud or earth in nest construction. This ecological trait constrains potential range and associations.