The AntsCanada Ant Forum's

Cyphomyrmex Sp. taking care of their fungus ball




Camponotus Sp. caring for eggs and pupa




Lasius Sp. making many, many, eggs

Cool! I like the fungus!

I am so jealous of the Cyphomyrmex Sp. I really want some fungus growing spp. Unfortunately PA does not have any But I do love PA sp. Congrats!

AntsRule wrote:I am so jealous of the Cyphomyrmex Sp. I really want some fungus growing spp. Unfortunately PA does not have any But I do love PA sp. Congrats!

naa, you guys have them up there. you dont have Cyphomyrmex Sp. but i do believe you have Trachymyrmex Sp. up there. (all fungus growers)
i got some tips to find them, if you want. they are one of the harder species to spot.

I checked two sources and PA does not have any of that sp. But of course all the surrounding states have them . Just in case, what are your tips? Also are there any other fugus growing sp. that you know of? Thanks!

AntsRule wrote:I checked two sources and PA does not have any of that sp. But of course all the surrounding states have them . Just in case, what are your tips? Also are there any other fugus growing sp. that you know of? Thanks!

yeah i was seeing that too. but IMO if they are said to be "maybe" around your state, there is a good chance you could find them in it. it could also be that no one has recorded finding them in your area yet.
anyway....tips. do you know any trees that have caterpillars nesting in them, near you?

larynx wrote:

AntsRule wrote:I checked two sources and PA does not have any of that sp. But of course all the surrounding states have them . Just in case, what are your tips? Also are there any other fugus growing sp. that you know of? Thanks!

yeah i was seeing that too. but IMO if they are said to be "maybe" around your state, there is a good chance you could find them in it. it could also be that no one has recorded finding them in your area yet.
anyway....tips. do you know any trees that have caterpillars nesting in them, near you?

You mean bag worms? Then yes I know of some.

im not sure about bag worms. but the caterpillars im talking about turn into butterflies. what you are looking for though, is for there "poop", or "castings", or "frass". the ants like to nest under these trees, to harvest the frass falling from them(from the caterpillars butt actually). they then take it to the fungus chamber and have it ferment and such, to make a fungus ball to eat. im not sure what it would look like from bagworms, but here is what it looks like from caterpillars.

OK thanks a lot! That was a big help! I will keep my eyes peeled and fingers crossed

larynx wrote:but here is what it looks like from caterpillars.

Thanks for the close-up of the caterpillar turd!