Species Insects & ArthropodsTexas Leaf-cutter Ant

Texas Leaf-cutter Ant

Atta texana

UncommonInsect & Arthropod
Illustration of Texas Leaf-cutter Ant (Atta texana)

The Texas Leaf-cutter Ant is the only leaf-cutting ant in the United States, creating well-worn trails through vegetation as workers carry cut leaf fragments back to massive underground fungus gardens. The fungus grown on the leaves is the sole food for larvae. Colonies can contain several million workers and underground nests may be 20 feet deep.

Habitat
Dry forest and scrub in central and eastern Texas
Diet
Larvae: cultivated fungus grown on cut vegetation. Workers: plant sap
How common
Uncommon

Recent Texas Leaf-cutter Ant sightings near you

Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.

Spot a Texas Leaf-cutter Ant? Identify it instantly.

Point Huck at any plant or animal and get an instant ID, rarity, and field notes — building your personal nature collection as you go.

Get Huck — free

More insects & arthropods

13-Year Periodical Cicada
13-Year Periodical Cicada
Magicicada tredecim
Acmon Blue
Acmon Blue
Plebejus acmon
Acorn Ant
Acorn Ant
Temnothorax curvispinosus
Acorn Weevil
Acorn Weevil
Curculio glandium
Aerial Yellowjacket
Aerial Yellowjacket
Dolichovespula arenaria
Alderfly
Alderfly
Sialis lutaria
Alfalfa Leafcutting Bee
Alfalfa Leafcutting Bee
Megachile rotundata
Ambush Bug
Ambush Bug
Phymata americana