Desert Leaf-cutting Ant
Acromyrmex versicolor
This record describes Acromyrmex versicolor (species). Recorded family: Formicidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Formicoidea
- Family
- Formicidae (Ants)
- Subfamily
- Myrmicinae
- Tribe
- Attini
- Genus
- Acromyrmex (Leaf-cutting Ants)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
CA to w. TX / Mex.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The ants cut and collected both dry and green vegetation with dry grasses comprising the bulk of the forage. The ants increased their cutting of green vegetation after significant rainfall but collected dry grasses almost exclusively during dry periods. (Gamboa 1975)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Acromyrmex versicolor. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbors approximately 20 quadrillion (20×10^15) ants, with a combined biomass of ~12 megatons of dry carbon - exceeding the combined biomass of all wild birds and mammals (PNAS, 2022).
Ecological role of the group
About 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators. The chocolate industry, valued at over $100 billion, depends on pollinating flies and midges. Ants are the dominant soil engineers in most terrestrial ecosystems, turning more soil than earthworms in many habitats.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Pollinators contribute $235-577 billion worth of annual global food production (FAO). In the U.S., bee pollination alone benefits crops valued at $18 billion annually, and honey bees are responsible for $5.4 billion in agricultural productivity. Between April 2023-2024, 55.1% of managed honey bee colonies were lost. The U.S. bee population dropped from 5 million to 2.5 million.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, USDA, EPA, PNAS (2022), US Fish & Wildlife Service. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Desert Leaf-cutting Ant (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Beatriz Moisset; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Desert Leaf-cutting Ant
How big is Desert Leaf-cutting Ant?
6-8 mm
Where is Desert Leaf-cutting Ant found?
Range: CA to w. TX / Mex.
What is the life cycle of a Desert Leaf-cutting Ant?
The ants cut and collected both dry and green vegetation with dry grasses comprising the bulk of the forage. The ants increased their cutting of green vegetation after significant rainfall but collected dry grasses almost exclusively during dry periods. (Gamboa 1975)