Atta texana

Hormiga cortadora de hojas de Texas

Atta texana

Texas Leafcutter Ant

avanzado

The only leafcutter ant species in the US, the North American relative of Atta cephalotes. Creates enormous underground colonies with chambers for fungus cultivation. Colonies can have millions of workers and live for decades.

Temperature

2230 °C

Humidity

7090%

Colony size

1,000,0008,000,000

Hibernation

Not required

Growth

→ Medium

Frequency

Every 2 days

Recommended feeding

Carbohydrates

Do NOT need sugars directly (obtained from the fungus)

Proteins

Fresh leaves (oak, ivy, rose)FlowersFresh grass

Feed with fresh leaves not treated with pesticides. Workers process them for the symbiotic fungus. No direct sugar water.

NEVER give
Leaves with pesticidesLeaves from toxic plants (bay laurel, poison ivy)Citrus
Nuptial flight

April – June

Warm, humid nights after rain (20–28°C). Massive nocturnal flight.

Queens are enormous (>20 mm). Attracted to lights. Massive synchronized flights with neighboring colonies.

This species produces soldiers (majors) with differentiated morphology.

Requires large space. Fungus chamber system essential. Workers are very polymorphic (minims, medias, majors, soldiers).

Queen activity by month

Estimated queen fertility (%)

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