Circular No. 1 48. Issued April 26, 1912. 



United States Department of Agriculture, 



BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY, 



L O. HOWARD, Entomologist and Chief of Bureau. 



TWO DESTRUCTITE TEXAS ANTS. 



By W. D. Hunter, 

 In Charge of Houthcrn Fifld-Croi) Innrtt Inveatiyations. 



THE CUTTING OR PARASOL ANT. 

 {Atta terana Buckley.) 



The so-called cutting or parasol ant {Atta texana Buckley) is Avell 

 known to residents of the region in which it occui-s. The colonies 

 are located in sandy soil, generally in the timber, and consist of low 

 mounds of considerable extent covered with numerous craters about 

 18 inches in diameter. The ants have the habit of cutting the leaves 

 from a great variety of plants and of carrying them to their nests. 

 In many cases the attack is concentrated on one tree, which may be 

 entirely defoliated in a single night. The species is of a reddish- 

 brown color. The colonies contain individuals sli owing great dif- 

 ferences in size, as will be explained later. 



DISTRIBUTIOX. 



The range of this species is rather restricted. It is known only 

 from a limited area in south-central Texas. This area extends from 

 the Brazos River as far north as "Waco to the Gulf, westward as far 

 as San Antonio, and southward to the vicinity of Alice. The ant is 

 most common in the valleys of the Colorado, Guadalupe, Comal, and 

 San Antonio Rivers. In these situations it is evidently increasing 

 in numbers from year to year. In many cases the nests occupy the 

 land practically continuously for many miles up and down the valleys. 



HABITS. 



The nests consist of underground chambers with several openings 

 or craters. The surplus ojjenings seem to be provided for the i)ur- 

 pose of ventilating the underground passages. The nests are located 



2646li°— Cir. 148—12 



