Atta mexicana
| Latin Name: |  |
Atta mexicana |
| Trivialname: |  |
Leafcutterant |
| Taxonomy: |  |
Subfamily: Myrmicinae Tribe: Attini |
| Keeping Level: |  |
(3) through their large Space- and Foodrequirements as well as their climatecondtions only for experienced antkeepers |
| Distribution: |  |
Mexico, north up to Arizona |
| Habitat: |  |
subtropics |
| Colonyform: |  |
monogyne |
| Queen: |  |
Size: 30mm Colour: reddish brown |
| Worker: |  |
Size: 3 - 16mm Colour: reddish brown, polymorph |
| Soldier: |  |
18 - 23mm, |
| Males: |  |
Size: 20 - 25mm Colour: shiny amber |
| Nutrition: |  |
a home-grown fungus (Leucoagaricus gongylophorus) is cultivated by the workers with the leaves and flowers of Rosaceae plants and fruits. Specific protein bodies to the fungal hyphae are harvested and fed to queen and brood. The administration of sugar or honey Water is recommended potential foodplants are: blackberries, raspberries, roses, boxwood, elderberry, oak, lime-tree, wild wine next to apples, orange, banana, grapes in an emergency also oatflakes It`s recommended to moisten the leaves before feeding. The feeding of sumach leaves should be avoided at all costs, as these are toxic to the fungus. |
| Airhumidity: |  |
Arena: 40 - 70% Nestpart: 80 - 90% Garbagechamber: 30 - 40% |
| Temperature: |  |
Arena: 21 - 28°C Nestpart: 24 - 28°C |
| Hibernation: |  |
no |
| Nestform: |  |
nest in soil |
| Kind of Formicaria: |  |
Farm, Farmbasin, Basin, Framebasin, Island, Acrylcylinder |
| Formicaria size: |  |
Size: XL !!! with growing of the colony a least 3 Basins for Fungus, Feeding and Garbage !!! |
| Substrate: |  |
Farm: - Arena: Potterclay, Perlite, Humus, Sand-Loam |
| Planting: |  |
- |
| Decoration: |  |
- |
| Description: |  |
Atta mexicana is a very adaptable leafcutterant which also tolerates cooler temperatures.In the urban areas of Mexico sometimes the most common leafcutterant. |
| Development: |  |
matingflight: with the first summerrains founding: claustral with a piece of fungus from the mothercolony which is first fertilized with droppings of the Queen. A Queen can be up to 15 years old. colonysize: up to 8.000 000 Individuals |
| Quantity: |  |
one fertilized queen with fungus and workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development) |
| Weblinks: |  |
- Forum - Reference |
