Texas Turtle Ant
Cephalotes texanus
This record describes Cephalotes texanus (species). Recorded family: Formicidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
This is a northern member of a moderately large Neotropical genus.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Formicoidea
- Family
- Formicidae (Ants)
- Subfamily
- Myrmicinae
- Tribe
- Attini
- Genus
- Cephalotes (Turtle Ants)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Nests inside hollow twigs, galls or in old beetle larva burrows in various trees and shrubs. The ants clean out prexisting cavities for their own use.
Geographic Range
San Antonio, TX to San Luis Potosi, Mex. - Map
Diet and Behavior
Diet: These ants feed off the surface of the plants they inhabit. Their crops often contain pollen grains, and they drink liquid from bird, lizard and mammal droppings, and probably also prey opportunistically on eggs and small, soft-bodied insects. Like most ants, these also drink honeydew and extrafloral nectar.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Cephalotes texanus. 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 Texas Turtle Ant (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Mike Quinn; Additional contributions by James C. Trager , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Texas Turtle Ant
What is Texas Turtle Ant?
Texas Turtle Ant (Cephalotes texanus) is a species in the family Formicidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
Where is Texas Turtle Ant found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Nests inside hollow twigs, galls or in old beetle larva burrows in various trees and shrubs. The ants clean out prexisting cavities for their own use. |
| Range | San Antonio, TX to San Luis Potosi, Mex. - Map |
What does Texas Turtle Ant eat?
The diet of the Texas Turtle Ant includes These ants feed off the surface of the plants they inhabit. Their crops often contain pollen grains, and they drink liquid from bird, lizard and mammal droppings, and probably also prey opportunistically on eggs and small, soft-bodied insects. Like most ants, these also drink honeydew and extrafloral nectar..