Some species of Cyphomyrmex fungus-growing ants are unusual in cultivating their fungus in yeast form. Rather than spongy white mycelia, the gardens of these ants are full of bite-sized white yeast globules. Mindo, Ecuador - Alex Wild Photography - Insect Photography

Cyphomyrmex

is a heterogenous genus of small, cryptic attine ants. It is among the most commonly encountered of the fungus-growing ants in warmer regions throughout the Americas. Unusually among attines, some Cyphomyrmex cultivate their fungus as a yeast.

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Few Cyphomyrmex species are as decorated with sleek little ridges as the Central American Cyphomyrmex costatus. The function of the ridges is unknown, but might help to increase the rigidity of the ants' integument.

Panama

Cyphomyrmex costatus in their edible fungal galleries.

Panama

Cyphomyrmex flavidus

Sycamore Canyon, Arizona, USA

An ambitious Cyphomyrmex forager carries a piece of insect frass back to the nest. These ants feed exclusively on a fungus that grows on the bits of detritus they gather.

Mindo, Ecuador

Some species of Cyphomyrmex fungus-growing ants are unusual in cultivating their fungus in yeast form. Rather than spongy white mycelia, the gardens of these ants are full of bite-sized white yeast globules.

Mindo, Ecuador

Some Cyphomyrmex species cultivate their fungus as a yeast, visible here as little white globules.

Mindo, Ecuador

A Cyphomyrmex (rimosus-group sp.) worker tends to yeast globules in the fungus garden.

Mindo, Ecuador

Some species of Cyphomyrmex fungus-growing ants are unusual in cultivating their fungus in yeast form. Rather than spongy white mycelia, the gardens of these ants are full of bite-sized white yeast globules.

Mindo, Ecuador

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Keywords: yeast ant nest attini fungus garden ant agriculture lepiotaceae

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Cyphomyrmex

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