Texas Leafcutter Ant

Need to get rid of Texas leafcutter ants? Read on to learn the answers to all of your important questions. Need help? Call our professionals today to get started.

What Are Texas Leafcutter Ants?

Texas leafcutter ants are a species of ant that can be found in the southern part of the United States near the northeastern parts of Mexico, in areas like Texas and Louisiana. Texas leafcutter ants are also known as town ants, parasol ants, fungus ants, cut ants and night ants. 

Texas leafcutter ants are considered a major pest, but because they mostly destroy over 200 plant species by harvesting their leaves, they aren’t really a worry for your home, though they are a major pest of agricultural and ornamental plants. Texas leafcutter ants can defoliate a citrus tree in under 24 hours. 

What Do Texas Leafcutter Ants Look Like?

Texas leafcutter ants are rusty brown in color and are between 4 to 14 millimeters in length, with a narrow waist. The back of the thorax has three prominent spines. Texas leafcutter ants are some of the biggest ants extant in Texas. 

What Do Texas Leafcutter Ants Eat?

Texas leafcutter worker ants remove eaves and buds from weeds, turf grasses, small grains, fruit and nut trees and other ornamental plants. If there is no other plant source to draw from, pine trees and seedlings may also be stripped. This defoliation is especially apparent in the winter months. 

Texas leafcutter ants do not eat the foliage they forage. Instead, they take the leaves back to their nests and use that material to raise a fungus garden. Certain parts of the fungus are then eaten as it grows and remains their only known source of food.

How Do Texas Leafcutter Ants Live?

Every colony of Texas leafcutter ants has several queens and can include up to 2 million workers. They build their nests in well-drained sandy soil, have over 1000 entrance holes and can spread out over 4,500 square feet. Colonies can survive for many years.

Are Texas Leafcutter Ants Dangerous?

Texas leafcutter ants aren’t dangerous to much but foliage, which they can destroy in large swaths. Worker Texas leafcutter ants do bite, but their bite is neither dangerous nor causes allergic reactions. Texas leafcutter ants are attracted to porch lights and are large for ants, so they may be invasive or annoying. 

Help With Texas Leafcutter Ants In Your Home

If you are concerned about Texas leafcutter ants in your home, please give us a call or fill out the form on this page. PestControlExperts.com is a team of experts who are highly qualified to provide the best recommendations for you and your home, no matter which part of the United States you live in.