Gliding-ant
Guides
Cephalotes rohweri
Sonoran Turtle Ant, gliding ant
Cephalotes rohweri is a desert-dwelling arboreal ant known for its distinctive head shape and ability to glide through the air when falling from trees. Colonies nest in abandoned beetle cavities within Palo Verde trees and feed primarily on pollen, rarely descending to the ground. The species exhibits temperature-sensitive gut microbiome dynamics, with bacterial mutualists in the genus Cephalotococcus declining under warm conditions.
Cephalotes texanus
Texanus-group Turtle Ants
Cephalotes texanus is a species of arboreal ant in the genus Cephalotes, commonly known as turtle ants. The species is characterized by its ability to glide through the air when falling from trees, a behavior facilitated by enlarged, flattened legs. It exhibits phragmosis, a defensive adaptation where soldiers use their uniquely shaped heads to block nest entrances. The species inhabits pre-existing cavities in wood, particularly those created by longhorn beetle larvae, rather than constructing its own nests. Native to Texas and northeastern Mexico, it was first described by Felix Santschi in 1915.
Cephalotes varians
Northern Caribbean Turtle Ant, turtle ant
Cephalotes varians is a strongly polyphenic turtle ant with three distinct female castes: small-bodied minor workers, larger phragmotic soldiers with shield-shaped heads used as living doors to block nest entrances, and reproductive gynes. The species exhibits gliding behavior, steering falls from trees using aerodynamic control. Native to the Neotropical region, it has been documented in the Florida Keys and listed as adventive in North America. Brain structure differs markedly among castes, with minor workers possessing disproportionately larger mushroom bodies associated with learning and memory, while soldiers and gynes have enlarged optic lobes.