oiledolives's Favorites

I found 6 nests total in only a few minutes, and there are probably more in this spot. This is the same locality where this species was found in 1993 and in 2009. It is in a sandy power line cut with open prairie-like habitat surrounded by sand pine forest. The temperature was about 69F and sunny. Nest entrance mounds were about the size of those made by Nylanderia phantasma or Pheidole adrianoi (both of which occur in the same spot), but the individual sand chunks are larger. I saw the sand arranged in both circular and lopsided patterns. I only found nests among native grasses and dead wildflowers, never on any open trails nearby.
This is the only Stenamma species known from Florida, and throughout its range it has only been found in December, January, and February.