Atta colombica
| Atta colombica | |
|---|---|
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| Atta colombica carrying a leaf segment | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Attini |
| Genus: | Atta |
| Species: | A. colombica |
| Binomial name | |
| Atta colombica (Guérin-Méneville, 1844)[1] | |
Atta colombica is one of 41 species of leafcutter ant. This species is part of the Attini tribe (the fungus-growing ants).
Description
Workers of this species are maroon in colour, and are entirely matte, with no shiny spots.[1]
Distribution
This species ranges from Guatemala to Colombia,[1][2] and can also be found in Costa Rica.[1]
Nests
Atta colombica produces visible refuse dumps of spent fungus on the surface. These dumps often take the form of large, conical mounds, and are located to the side of the main soil mounds. Lines of workers carry the spent fungus from the nest to the dumps. They deposit the grayish-white pellets at the peak of the mounds, which produces the conical shape. This behaviour is different from A. cephalotes which deposit their refuse in subterranean dumps.[1]
Further reading
- M. A. Bowers & S. D. Porter (1981). "Effect of foraging distance on water content of substrates harvested by Atta columbica (Guerin)". Ecology. 62 (1): 273–275. doi:10.2307/1936686. JSTOR 1936686.
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Formicidae: Atta colombica". Academic.evergreen.edu. October 8, 2003. Archived from the original on 2 October 2010. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
- ↑ "Species: Atta colombica". AntWeb. 2010-06-30. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Atta colombica. |
- Kathryn M. Sullan, Catrina A. Lindgren & Abigail Adams (2006). "Resource preference and foraging efficiency in leaf-cutter (Atta columbica) ants" (PDF). Dartmouth Studies in Tropical Ecology. Dartmouth College.
- Atta colombica minor workers tending to their fungus garden