Subtribe Attina - Fungus Growing Ants

Not a super well used taxonomic classification yet, since the expansion of Attini is relatively recent and fungus growing ant literature is slowly catching up.

This subtribe was created since New World fungus growing genera are known to be monophyletic (none known from the Old World) and it seems useful to have a name for the fungus growers. Subtribe Attina is used as a substitute for the old Attini tribe, which has been vastly expanded to include non-fungus growing myrmicine genera.

In our area mostly in the sunbelt states, two species can reach pretty far north: T. septentrionalis gets to the pine barrens of NJ and C. wheeleri ranges to the Bay Area of CA.

Mostly ground nesting, sometimes in logs.

Foragers cut plant matter or collect detritus to grow various types of fungus for food.