Stenamma chiricahua Snelling

It may be necessary to collect a queen to reliably separate this species from S. smithi, as is explained in the original description. For this reason, Snelling took the unusual step of using an alate female as the holotype rather than a worker.

"Worker hardly distinguishable from that of S. smithi but smaller, scape with decumbent hairs, propodeum above metapleural gland with distinct longitudinal rugulae and metanotal depression narrow, V-shaped. Female similar to that of S. smithi but disc of mesoscutum smooth, with scattered coarse pilgerous punctures, striae or rugulae absent.

Workers are not reliably separable from small individuals of S. smithi. The difficulties of separation are discussed under S. smithi and need not be repeated here. The female of S. chiricahua appears readily separable from S. smithi and known females of other North American species by the smooth and shiny mesonotum, which wholly lacks longitudinal rugulae in the area between the parapsides, and the nonsculptured first sternite. The nonstriate mesoscutum is shared with the female of S. punctatoventre, from which it differs most obviously by the smooth, shiny first sternite. The shiny mesonotum, long basal propodeal face and lack of propodeal spines are characteristic of the male.

Workers are brownish ferruginous, with yellowish legs and antennae that are more reddish."

Snelling 1973