Amoimyrmex striatus | |
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A. striatus worker | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hymenoptera |
Family: | Formicidae |
Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
Genus: | Amoimyrmex |
Species: | A. striatus
|
Binomial name | |
Amoimyrmex striatus |
This article needs to be updated.(October 2024) |
Amoimyrmex striatus is a species of leafcutter ant found in the Neotropics.[2]
It is a member of the subfamily Myrmicinae, and within the tribe Attini. As an attine, A. striatus forages for vegetation that will be applied to the fungal garden, typical in all leaf-cutting species.[3] The fungus is fed the mycophagous larvae[4] and queen, while workers are nourished primarily by the sap of cut plants, and very little by the mutualistic fungus making them respectively, phytophagous, and mycophagous.[3] The presence of leaf-cutter ants is so common in the Neotropics, that they are considered to be the main herbivores of these areas.,[2][4]
A. striatus is a polymorphic species, meaning that there are several different sizes of workers, with the largest being 6.5 mm long.[3] This is done to compartmentalize a variety of tasks so they can be done efficiently.