Atta cephalotes (bicolor)
| Latin Name: |  |
Atta cephalotes |
| Trivialname: |  |
Leafcutterant |
| Taxonomy: |  |
Subfamily: Myrmicinae Tribe: Attini |
| Keeping Level: |  |
(3) through their large Space- and Foodrequirements as well as their climateconditions only for experienced antkeepers |
| Distribution: |  |
Southamerica |
| Habitat: |  |
tropical Rainforest |
| Colonyform: |  |
monogyne |
| Queen: |  |
Size: 30mm Colour: redbrown |
| Worker: |  |
Size: 3 - 16mm Colour: shiny redbrown to amber, Thorax darkbrown til black polymorph |
| Soldier: |  |
18 - 23mm, good developed heads with wooly hair |
| Males: |  |
Size: 20 - 25mm Colour: shiny amber |
| 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 soil |
| 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: |  |
Soil nests with many chambers within closed forest areas also often nests above the surface between the roots, which are covered with leaves. They have special garbagechambers that function as an air filter and pull fresh air into the nest through a temperature gradient. |
| Development: |  |
matingflight: with the first summerrains founding: claustral colonysize: up to 8.000 000 Individuals |
| Quantity: |  |
one fertilized queen with fungus and workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development) |
| Weblinks: |  |
- Forum - Reference |
