Latin Name: |
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Atta texana |
Common name: |
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Texas Leaf cutting ant |
Taxonomy: |
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Subfamily: Myrmicinae Tribe: Attini |
KeepingLevel: |
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(3) through their large space and food requirements as well as their climate conditions only for experienced antkeepers |
Distribution: |
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United States, Mexico |
Habitat: |
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plains and meadows |
Colony shape: |
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monogynous |
Queen: |
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Size: 17 - 18mm Color: reddishbrown, mandibles black |
Workers: |
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Size: 1.5 - 9mm Color: reddishbrown, mandibles black, polymorph |
Soldiers: |
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Size: 10 - 12mm Color: reddishbrown, mandibles black |
Male: |
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Size: 13 - 14mm Color: reddishbrown, small head |
Nutrition: |
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fungi which the ants cultivate of plant leaves and fruits.
possible Feedingplants: Blackberry, Raspberry, Roses, Boxtree, Elder, Lime-Tree, Oakleaves, Chestnut, Virginia Creeper, also Apples, Oranges, Bananas, Grapes only without any other food oat flakes.
It`s recommended to moisten the leaves before feeding. Also feed sugar or honeywater to support the workers
Do not use staghorn sumac leaves because there leaves are toxic for the fungus. |
Air humidity: |
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Arena: 40 - 70% Nest Part: 70 - 90% Garbage Chamber: 30 - 40% |
Temperatures: |
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Arena: 21 - 28°C Nest part: 24 - 28°C |
Hibernation: |
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no |
Nest shape: |
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nest in soil |
Kind of Formicaria: |
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Farm, Farmbasin, Basin, Framebasin, Island, Acrylcylinder |
Formicaria size: |
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Size: XL !!! with growing of the colony a least 3 Basins for Fungus, Feeding and Garbage !!! |
Substrates: |
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Farm: - Arena: Potterclay, Perlite, Humus, Sand-Loam |
Planting: |
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- |
Decoration: |
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- |
Description: |
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Atta texana is a leavecutter ant from north America and is commonly found in plains and urban areas. In agriculture, they are often considered pests because of their high demand of leaves . |
Development: |
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matingflight: April and may in the evening
founding: claustral with a piece of fungus from the mother colony which is first fertilized with droppings of the Queen. A Queen can be up to 15 years old.
colony size: up to 8,000,000 individuals |
Quantity: |
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one fertilized queen with fungus and workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development) |
Web links: |
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- Forum
- Reference |