Life history, nest longevity, sex ratio, and nest architecture of the fungus-growing ant Mycetosoritis hartmanni (Formicidae: Attina).

ABSTRACT: Mycetosoritis hartmanni is a rarely collected fungus-farming ant of North America. We describe life history and nest architecture for a M. hartmanni population in central Texas, USA. Colonies are monogynous with typically less than 100 workers (average 47.6 workers, maximum 148 workers). Nests occur always in sand and have a uniform architecture with 1-3 underground garden chambers arranged along a vertical tunnel, with the deepest gardens 50-70 cm deep. Foragers are active primarily between April and October. After reduced activity between November and February, egg laying by queens resumes in April, and the first worker pupae develop in early June. Reproductive females and males are reared primarily in July and August, with proportionally more females produced early in summer (protogyny)

SUBMITTER: Mueller UG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10370743 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature