Mating activities of Atta texana (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Abstract

The town ant, Atta texana (Buckley) is the northernmost representative of the most specialized genus of Attini, a New World tribe of fungus-growing myrmicine ants. Colonies are found in central Louisiana; easter, central and southern Texas; and eastern Mexico as far south as Vera Cruz. They are restricted to sandy soils and are usually located on tops of ridges. Nest surfaces often cover areas of 1/5 ha, and excavations may reach a depth of 7 m. Fungus gardens are raised in cavities whose volumes average about 4 1. A large nest may contain 1,000 or more cavities.

Citation

Moser, John C. 1967. Mating activities of Atta texana (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Insectes Sociaux Bulletin, Vol. 14(3): 295-312