TEXAS LEAFCUTTER ANTS

leafcutter ants texas

The Texas leafcutter ant (Atta texana), also known as the town or parasol ant, is a reddish-brown, fungus-farming insect found in Texas, Louisiana, and Mexico. They live in massive underground colonies up to 2 million strong and cut leaves from over 200 plant species to cultivate an underground fungal garden for food.

Behavior and Diet

Do not directly eat the leaves they harvest.
Use leaf fragments as a base to grow their required fungus.
Forage mostly at night in long, busy columns.
Can strip a garden plant or citrus tree of its leaves in less than 24 hours. 

Nest and Habitat

Prefer deep, well-drained sandy or loamy soils.
Build complex underground nests that can reach 20 feet deep and cover thousands of square feet.
Marked by crescent or crater-shaped sand mounds with many entrance holes. 

Management and Control

Considered a major agricultural and ornamental pest.
Difficult to eliminate completely once established.
Controlled using specialized pelletized baits (like Amdro Ant Block) or targeted liquid insecticides injected into nest holes.