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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps » Ants (Formicoidea) » Ants (Formicidae) » Myrmicinae » Attini » Fungus Growing Ants (Attina) » Mycetomoellerius » Trachymyrmex turrifex (Mycetomoellerius turrifex)
Photo#696714
small primitive looking ant - Mycetomoellerius turrifex
Copyright © 2012 Arlon

small primitive looking ant - Mycetomoellerius turrifex
Midland, Midland County, Texas, USA
August 28, 2012
Size: 1/8"
Primitive looking ant with a very sparse nest entry made mostly of leaf and twig litter. Debris from the nest was carried 6" from the nest so there was no clean dirt cone around the nest just a cone of dirt and leaf debris. Seems omnivorous.

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small primitive looking ant - Mycetomoellerius turrifex small primitive looking ant - Mycetomoellerius turrifex small primitive looking ant - Mycetomoellerius turrifex
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Contributed by Arlon on 28 August, 2012 - 9:17pm
Last updated 31 August, 2012 - 2:41pm

Moved
In fact, neither "primitive" nor omnivorous. They belong to one of the younger lineages of ants, the fungus-growing ants, generally considered an advanced and specialized group. These are close relatives of the famous leaf-cutting ants. But they certainly do have a well-armored look. Their food is a symbiotic fungus cultivated on a variety of macerated plant matter scavenged or clipped (this much less often, so nice that you got a picture of it) from their surroundings. A primary component of their mushroom compost is the dung of herbivorous insects, especially caterpillars.
… James C. Trager, 31 August, 2012 - 2:42pm login or register to post comments

Moved for expert attention
Moved from ID Request.

Resembles Trachymyrmex:



The experts will say for sure.
… Ken Wolgemuth, 28 August, 2012 - 9:22pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks! If that isn't it, it'
Thanks! If that isn't it, it's pretty darn close!
… Arlon, 28 August, 2012 - 9:29pm login or register to post comments

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