Leafcutting Ants

Habits

Workers forage when the temperature is between 45-90 degrees. They usually stay in their nest during the hottest period of the day, and seal the entrances with soil and debris to conserve moisture. During the summer, they forage mostly at night. Leafcutting ants will travel up to 600 ft. from the nest to gather leaves, which they use to raise a fungus for food.

Aside from their harvested plant parts, leafcutting ants eat caterpillar droppings, corn, cornmeal, flour, rice, peas, wheat, oats, chops, bread, cake, chicken feed, sugar, beans and ground coffee.

Habitat

Leafcutting ants build their nests in soil. They are primarily outdoor pests found in warm, agricultural areas. However, it's not uncommon for leafcutting ants to be found nesting in urban neighborhoods. They also occasionally enter structures, but leave quickly.

Threats

Leafcutting ants are of concern to homeowners in urban settings because of their ability to rapidly remove leaves, flowers and fruits from trees. They can cause considerable defoliation overnight.

Workers have large mandibles that are capable of drawing blood.