Trap-jaw-ants
Guides
Strumigenys
Mustache and Pygmy Snapping Ants
Strumigenys is a hyperdiverse genus of small predatory ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae, comprising over 880 species. Members are characterized by specialized mandible morphology ranging from gripping to trap-jaw mechanisms, and cryptic lifestyles primarily in leaf litter and soil habitats. The genus exhibits remarkable diversity in nesting strategies, including solitary nesting, xenobiosis, and social parasitism. Several species reproduce via thelytokous parthenogenesis, a rare trait among ants that facilitates colonization of new environments.
Strumigenys dietrichi
Dietrich's Mustache Ant
Strumigenys dietrichi is a species of trap-jaw ant in the genus Strumigenys, described by Smith in 1931. Like other members of this genus, it possesses elongated mandibles capable of rapid closure to capture prey. The species has been placed in synonymy with Pyramica dietrichi in some taxonomic treatments, reflecting ongoing taxonomic revisions within this ant group. Very few observations exist in public databases, suggesting it may be naturally rare or undercollected.
Strumigenys hexamera
Strumigenys hexamera is a species of trap-jaw ant in the genus Strumigenys, first described by Brown in 1958 under the basionym Epitritus hexamerus. The species belongs to the diverse myrmicine ant genus Strumigenys, which comprises over 850 species known for their specialized predatory mandibles. It has been recorded from the conterminous 48 United States.
Strumigenys pergandei
Pergande's Mustache Ant
Strumigenys pergandei is a species of trap-jaw ant in the genus Strumigenys, described by Carlo Emery in 1895. The species belongs to a diverse genus of small myrmicine ants known for their specialized mandible morphology. It is native to North America and is one of many species in a genus containing nearly 1,000 described taxa.
Strumigenys rostrata
rostrata-group Mustache Ants
Strumigenys rostrata is a species of trap-jaw ant in the family Formicidae, originally described by Emery in 1895. It belongs to a species complex characterized by specialized mandible morphology. The species has undergone taxonomic revision, with some sources listing it as a synonym of related species while others maintain its accepted status. Members of this species group are distributed across multiple biogeographic regions including the Malagasy, Oriental, Malesian, East Palaearctic and Nearctic regions.
Strumigenys superstes
Strumigenys superstes is a species of trap-jaw ant in the genus Strumigenys, described by Booher and Uhey in 2020. The species name 'superstes' is Latin for 'survivor,' referencing its persistence in a challenging environment. Like other members of its genus, this ant possesses specialized elongated mandibles capable of rapid closure to capture prey. The species belongs to the diverse myrmicine ant fauna, with the genus Strumigenys containing over 850 described species worldwide.