Summary: Research article
Nesting biology of the arboreal fungus-growing ant Cyphomyrmex cornutus
and behavioral interactions with the social-parasitic ant Megalomyrmex
mondabora
R.M.M. Adams1
and J.T. Longino2
1
University of Texas, Section of Integrative Biology, 1 University Station, Austin, TX 78712­0253, USA, e-mail: rmmadams@mail.utexas.edu
2
The Evergreen State College, Lab I, Olympia WA, 98505, USA., e-mail: longinoj@evergreen.edu
Received 14 September 2006; revised 1 February 2007; accepted 6 February 2007.
Abstract. We describe the extraordinary nesting habits of
the fungus-growing ant Cyphomyrmex cornutus (Formi-
cidae, Myrmicinae, Attini) and the natural history of
Megalomyrmex mondabora (Formicidae, Myrmicinae,
Solenopsidini), a social parasite that inhabits nests of C.
cornutus and other small attine ants. The study was
carried out at two sites on the Atlantic slope of Costa
Rica. The C. cornutus nest is an oblong mass of accreted
soil, attached to or suspended from low vegetation in wet

Source: Adams, Rachelle M. M. - Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution
Schultz, Ted - Curator of Hymenoptera, Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution

Collections: Biology and Medicine