Lower Attine Ant vs Severini's Rover Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Lower Attine Ant Severini's Rover Ant
Scientific Name Cyphomyrmex rimosus Tetramorium severini
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Formicidae Formicidae
Size 2-3 mm 2-3 mm
Habitat Gardens Underground
Diet Detritivores Omnivores
Regions Southern United States, Central and South America Madagascar
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Lower Attine Ant

A tiny, cryptic fungus-growing ant with a rugose and heavily sculptured dark brown body. Workers cultivate yeast rather than the mycelial fungus of more derived attines. They collect insect frass and dead plant material for their yeast gardens.

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Did You Know?

Unlike their famous leafcutter relatives, they grow a yeast-like fungus rather than the mushroom-like fungi cultivated by Atta and Acromyrmex.

Severini's Rover Ant

A small leaf-litter ant with a finely striate head and propodeal spines of moderate length. It belongs to the T. severini species group endemic to Madagascar.

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Did You Know?

Its species group contains numerous cryptic species that can only be reliably distinguished using DNA barcoding methods.