7 replies to this topic

[Hbenavidez3334]

 

 

Found these gals at my college campus, they were carrying leaves to their nest, which is what caught my eye, the moving leaves. Was curious as to what species they were, so i snapped this quick pick and uploaded it. sorry for the bad quality, only had my phone on me. 

 

 

[Aquaexploder]

Where is your college? (We need to know to ID)

Edited by Aquaexploder, June 8 2017 - 10:34 AM.

[Nathant2131]

Location and preferably measurements needed

[Martialis]

I agree with Nathan5t, but the placement of the Propodeal spines leads me to believe this is Atta. Are you from Texas?

[Cameron C. Thomas]

It's a little blurry, but those are definitely ants in the genus Atta. Their goofy heads are unmistakable. There are two species which occur in the US, Atta texana and Atta mexicana. From Fisher and Cover, A. texana occurs  in central and eastern Texas to Louisiana and A. mexicana occurs in extreme southern Arizona.

[Martialis]

I believe A. Mexicana is in Texas and New Mexico, too, correct?

[Cameron C. Thomas]

I believe A. Mexicana is in Texas and New Mexico, too, correct?

 

I'm not familiar with specific occurrences in that part of the US, but Fisher and Cover's Ants of North America lists the species as only occurring at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in southern Arizona, but it was also published in 2007. A quick search of AntWeb also shows US occurrence only in that area. Given my unfamiliarity with the south central US, I would say it's certainly possible for A. mexicana to exist there if introduced, but its probably unlikely that they're there otherwise. 

[Spamdy]

I think I remember on another thread he did state he was in Texas.