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Taxonomic History (provided by Barry Bolton, 2017)

Taxon Page Images:

A minute Strumigenys arizonica is dwarfed by two Trachymyrmex arizonensis whose fungus gardens she may patrol for springtail prey.
Image © Alex Wild.

Distribution:

(based on species list records)
Nearctic Region: Arizona, North America, United States
Neotropical Region: Americas

Biology:

These tiny ants are found exclusively within the nests of the fungus-growing Trachymyrmex arizonensis. The attines vigilantly maintain an optimally moist microenvironment in their fungus gardens, and S. arizonica likely prey on Collembola (springtails) that take advantage of this microhabitat.

Specimen Habitat Summary

Found most commonly in these habitats: 1 times found in oak-pine-juniper woodland surrounding, 1 times found in Gray Oak, Emory Oak forest 35'tall on slopes large wash., 1 times found in Oak canopy edge in partial shade. Upper wash slope. Coarse sand. Emory Oak forest 35' tall.

Found most commonly in these microhabitats: 1 times ground nest, 1 times with grassy groundcover on flat. Chambers nest to Trachy. arizonensis nest under large rock., 1 times Trachy. nest w/4" crater in part shade. Sand w/clay. In nest chambers w/Trachy..

Elevations: collected from 1113 - 1650 meters, 1386 meters average

Type specimens:

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