Acromyrmex volcanus
| Latin Name: |  |
Acromymrex volcanus |
| Trivialname: |  |
Leafcutterant |
| Taxonomy: |  |
Subfamily: Myrmicinae Tribe: Attini |
| Keeping Level: |  |
(3) through their large Space- and Foodrequirements as well as their climatecondtions only for experienced antkeepers |
| Distribution: |  |
Centralamerica |
| Habitat: |  |
rainforest, savanna |
| Colonyform: |  |
monogyne |
| Queen: |  |
Size: 11mm Colour: darkbrown to black |
| Worker: |  |
Size: 4 - 9mm Colour: minor: red to yellowish brown, major: darkbrown to black |
| Soldier: |  |
not present |
| Males: |  |
Size: - Colour: - |
| Nutrition: |  |
a home-grown fungus (Leucoagaricus gongylophorus) is cultivated by the workers with the leaves and flowers of Rosaceae plants and fruits. Specific protein bodies to the fungal hyphae are harvested and fed to queen and brood. The administration of sugar or honey Water is recommended potential foodplants are: blackberries, raspberries, roses, boxwood, elderberry, oak, lime-tree, wild wine next to apples, orange, banana, grapes in an emergency also oatflakes It`s recommended to moisten the leaves before feeding. The feeding of sumach leaves should be avoided at all costs, as these are toxic to the fungus. |
| Airhumidity: |  |
Arena: 40 - 70% Nestpart: 80 - 90% Garbagechamber: 30 - 40% |
| Temperature: |  |
Arena: 21 - 28°C Nestpart: 24 - 28°C |
| Hibernation: |  |
no |
| Nestform: |  |
nest in trees |
| Kind of Formicaria: |  |
Farm, Farmbasin, Basin, Framebasin, Island, Acrylcylinder |
| Formicaria size: |  |
Size: XL !!! with growing of the colony a least 3 Basins for Fungus, Feeding and Garbage !!! |
| Substrate: |  |
Farm: - Arena: Potterclay, Perlite, Humus, Sand-Loam |
| Planting: |  |
- |
| Decoration: |  |
- |
| Description: |  |
Acromyrmex cf. volcanus is a small leafcutterant from Centralamerica. It`s one of the most common attini in lowlandforest of Costa Rica. Unlike Atta they perform long trek to cuttingplaces and need the longer ways to develop optimal. They cut mainly leaves, flowers and fruits. |
| Development: |  |
matingflight: with the first summerrains founding: claustral with a piece of fungus from the mothercolony which is first fertilized with droppings of the Queen. A Queen can be between 8 up to 15 years old. colonysize: not more than 20 000 Individuals |
| Quantity: |  |
one fertilized queen with fungus and workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development) |
| Weblinks: |  |
- Forum - Reference |