Fungus-growing-ant
Guides
Atta mexicana
Chicatana Leafcutter Ant, Chicatana, Hormiga Podadora de Hoja, Mochomo, Nucú, Nacasmá, Cocosh
Atta mexicana is a leaf-cutting ant and advanced attine fungus-grower native to Mexico and the southwestern United States. The species cultivates the basidiomycete fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus as its primary food source, cutting and collecting leaf fragments to serve as fungal substrate. Colonies are large and complex, with sophisticated caste specialization including queens (~30 mm), workers, and soldiers (~18 mm). The species is culturally significant in Mexico as a traditional food source (chicatana) harvested during nuptial flights, and is also recognized as an agricultural pest in some contexts.
Cyphomyrmex rimosus
Rimose Fungus-farming Ant
Cyphomyrmex rimosus is a fungus-growing ant in the tribe Attini, native to the Neotropics. It is a small, slow-moving species that cultivates fungal gardens for food. Colonies are typically small, with fewer than 500 workers. Workers are known to feign death when disturbed, remaining immobile for extended periods.
Mycetomoellerius turrifex
Turret Fungus-farming Ant
Mycetomoellerius turrifex is a fungus-farming ant in the tribe Attini, known for cultivating mutualistic fungi in subterranean gardens. The species was transferred from Trachymyrmex to the newly erected genus Mycetomoellerius in 2019 based on molecular phylogenetic evidence. Colonies exhibit complex social dynamics, including the presence of non-inseminated queens that adopt worker-like behaviors. Colony foundation involves pleometrosis, where multiple queens cooperate to establish new nests.
Mycetosoritis hartmanni
Hartmann's Fungus-farming Ant
Mycetosoritis hartmanni is a rarely collected fungus-farming ant native to North America. Colonies are small and monogynous, typically containing fewer than 100 workers. The species constructs distinctive turret-like mounds in sandy soils and cultivates fungi as its sole food source. Despite being locally abundant in suitable habitat, it remains poorly known due to its subterranean lifestyle.
Pheidole sitiens
Pheidole sitiens is a species of big-headed ant described by E.O. Wilson in 2003. As a member of the hyperdiverse genus Pheidole, it exhibits the characteristic dimorphic worker caste system with minor workers and major workers (soldiers) bearing disproportionately large heads. The species is part of the Attini tribe within Myrmicinae, placing it among the fungus-growing ants, though specific details about its biology remain poorly documented.
Trachymyrmex arizonensis
Arizona Fungus-farming Ant
Trachymyrmex arizonensis is a higher-attine fungus-growing ant native to the southwestern United States and Mexico. The species cultivates symbiotic fungi as its primary food source, showing strong partner fidelity with its fungal cultivar lineage. Phylogenetic studies reveal a pattern of 'one-to-one with some exceptions' in its ant-fungal specificity, with high fidelity to its own fungal subclade and rare instances of horizontal fungal transfer between colonies. Males exhibit distinctive morphology with reduced head size relative to body, a trait shared with other attine ants.
Trachymyrmex septentrionalis
Northern Fungus-farming Ant
Trachymyrmex septentrionalis is a fungus-farming ant in the tribe Attini, notable as the northernmost attine species. It cultivates symbiotic fungal gardens in underground nests, primarily in sandy soils. The species exhibits sophisticated garden hygiene behaviors, detecting and removing pathogen-infected garden material using chemical cues. Population dynamics are strongly influenced by drought conditions, with colonies concentrating in mesic microhabitats during dry periods.