Acromyrmex balzani on:
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''Acromyrmex balzani'' is a species of leaf-cutter ant of the
subfamily
In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...
Myrmicinae
Myrmicinae is a subfamily of ants, with about 140 extant genera; their distribution is cosmopolitan. The pupae lack cocoons. Some species retain a functional sting. The petioles of Myrmicinae consist of two nodes. The nests are permanent and ...
. It is found Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil. It occurs in Cerrado and semideciduous seasonal forest. It is a grass-cutting species.
Subspecies
In addition to the nominotypicalsubspecies
In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...
, one subspecies is recognized:
* ''Acromyrmex balzani multituber'' Santschi, 1922 – Bolivia
Colony structure
A colony of ''Acromyrmex balzani'' consists of several subnests (i.e,polydomy
An ant colony is a population of a single ant species capable to maintain its complete lifecycle. Ant colonies are eusocial, communal, and efficiently organized and are very much like those found in other social Hymenoptera, though the vari ...
), with one queen each. The underground nests contain 1–14 fungus chambers and can reach a depth of at least . There are no waste chambers; the waste is deposited outside the nest.
See also
* List of leafcutter antsReferences
External links
* balzani Hymenoptera of South America Insects described in 1890 Taxa named by Carlo Emery {{ant-stub