Cyphomyrmex costatus

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

Worker fungus-growing ants in their edible galleries. Panama

Cyphomyrmex flavidus

Sycamore Canyon, Arizona, USA

Cyphomyrmex flavidus

Sycamore Canyon, Arizona, USA

Cyphomyrmex flavidus

Sycamore Canyon, Arizona, USA

Cyphomyrmex laevigatus

Most species of the cryptic fungus-growing ant genus Cyphomyrmex are difficult to identify, but the smooth, rounded back of C. laevigatus is instantly recognizable. Refugio Amazonas, Tambopata, Peru.

Cyphomyrmex minutus

A worker of the taxonomically ambiguus Cyphomyrmex minutus fungus growing ant stands atop developing larvae. Refugio Amazonas, Tambopata, Peru.

Cyphomyrmex minutus

A worker ant delicately moves eggs through a frass/yeast garden typical of Cyphomyrmex in the rimosus species group. Refugio Amazonas, Tambopata, Peru.

Cyphomyrmex sp.

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

Cyphomyrmex sp.

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

Cyphomyrmex (rimosus group sp.)

A fungus-growing ant stands guard over the garden. Agriculture in this species involves growing yeast on fresh caterpillar droppings, an abundant resource in any humid tropical forest. La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica.

Cyphomyrmex sp.

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

Cyphomyrmex sp.

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

Cyphomyrmex sp.

Cyphomyrmex (rimosus-group sp.) tends to the fungus garden. Mindo, Ecuador

Cyphomyrmex rimosus

A Cyphomyrmex worker carries a bit of frass back to her nest, where it will be used to cultivate the edible yeast that sustains her colony. El Yunque, Puerto Rico..

Cyphomyrmex rimosus

A winged male ant walks among workers in an underground nest of small fungus-farming ants. Austin, Texas, USA.

Cyphomyrmex rimosus

Cyphomyrmex rimosus carrying caterpillar frass back to the nest where it will be fed to the colony's fungus garden. Gainesville, Florida, USA

Cyphomyrmex rimosus

Portrait of a small fungus-farming ant. Brackenridge Field Lab, Austin, Texas, USA.

Cyphomyrmex rimosus garden

Some Cyphomyrmex grow their edible fungus in yeast form, rather than the more common hyphal sponge. Here, golden clumps of yeast adorn caterpillar droppings the ants have collected. Brackenridge Field Lab, Texas, USA.

Cyphomyrmex rimosus

A worker ant in the fungus garden. Brackenridge Field Lab, Austin, Texas, USA.

Cyphomyrmex rimosus

These tiny fungus-growing ants don't look like much to the naked eye, but high magnification reveals their unusual plate-like hairs and armored body sculpture. Austin, Texas, USA.

Cyphomyrmex rimosus

These tiny fungus-growing ants don't look like much to the naked eye, but high magnification reveals their unusual plate-like hairs and armored body sculpture. Austin, Texas, USA.

Cyphomyrmex rimosus

Portrait of a small fungus-farming ant. Brackenridge Field Lab, Austin, Texas, USA.

Cyphomyrmex rimosus

Cyphomyrmex rimosus, queen. Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA