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1.Antenna- segmented 6.Thorax- 3 pairs of spines LEAF CUTTING ANT 1.Antenna- segmented 6.Thorax- 3 pairs of spines LEAF CUTTING ANT
2.Eyes- 2 compound 7.Petiole- two nodes 2.Eyes- 2 compound 7.Petiole- two nodes
3.Head 8.Abdomen- fairly small 6 3.Head 8.Abdomen- fairly small 6
4.Legs- 6 9.Color- reddish to dark brown 4.Legs- 6 9.Color- reddish to dark brown
5.Wings- alates only 10.Other- has small stinger 8 5.Wings- alates only 10.Other- has small stinger 8
Life Cycle Life Cycle
Swarming occurs between April and June. Females leave the nest with 3 Swarming occurs between April and June. Females leave the nest with 3
a little supply of food, mate with males (who then die), and establish a a little supply of food, mate with males (who then die), and establish a
new colony. A queen can lay several thousand eggs each day. Workers 7 4 new colony. A queen can lay several thousand eggs each day. Workers 7 4
are most active from May to September, establishing prominent foraging are most active from May to September, establishing prominent foraging
trails. Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR trails. Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR

LEAF CUTTING ANT LEAF CUTTING ANT
Actual size 1/2” Actual size 1/2”
As the name implies, these ants will strip leaves off a wide variety of plants and trees. They As the name implies, these ants will strip leaves off a wide variety of plants and trees. They
bring them back to the nest, where they are used to grow fungus—their favorite food. They bring them back to the nest, where they are used to grow fungus—their favorite food. They
are a large ant, with workers up to a half-inch in size, and queens up to 3/4th inch. Leaf cutting are a large ant, with workers up to a half-inch in size, and queens up to 3/4th inch. Leaf cutting
Ants are reddish brown to dark brown in color. Colonies are huge—containing millions of ants, Ants are reddish brown to dark brown in color. Colonies are huge—containing millions of ants,
and are very complex. There are nurser, worker, soldier, and male drone castes, but only one and are very complex. There are nurser, worker, soldier, and male drone castes, but only one
main queen. main queen.

VELVET ANT VELVET ANT VELVET ANT VELVET ANT
FEMALE FEMALE

Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR
1.Antenna- straight 6.Thorax- covered with hair VELVET ANT 1.Antenna- straight 6.Thorax- covered with hair VELVET ANT
2.Eyes- 2 compound 7.Petiole- none 2.Eyes- 2 compound 7.Petiole- none
3.Head 8.Abdomen- covered with hair 6 8 3.Head 8.Abdomen- covered with hair 6 8
4.Legs- 6 9.Color- varied bright colors 3 4.Legs- 6 9.Color- varied bright colors 3
5.Wings- only on males 10.Other- not a true ant 5.Wings- only on males 10.Other- not a true ant

Life Cycle Life Cycle
Eggs are laid on the pupae of wasps, bees, and some beetles. They Eggs are laid on the pupae of wasps, bees, and some beetles. They
hatch within days and feed upon their host, then spin a cocoon. When hatch within days and feed upon their host, then spin a cocoon. When
they emerge, they will prey upon the ground nests of other wasps and they emerge, they will prey upon the ground nests of other wasps and
bees. 4 bees. 4
Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR
VELVET ANTS VELVET ANTS
Actual size ranges from 1/4” to 7/8” Actual size ranges from 1/4” to 7/8”
Velvet Ants are not really ants, but are actually a type of wasp. They live in sandy, arid areas perfect Velvet Ants are not really ants, but are actually a type of wasp. They live in sandy, arid areas perfect
for the desert environment. They are quite noticeable because of the long velvety hairs that give them for the desert environment. They are quite noticeable because of the long velvety hairs that give them
their name. They will prey upon bees and other wasps that nest in the ground, and will be seen run- their name. They will prey upon bees and other wasps that nest in the ground, and will be seen run-
ning erratically upon the ground. The females are capable of stinging. Velvet Ants are usually found in ning erratically upon the ground. The females are capable of stinging. Velvet Ants are usually found in
a combination of black, yellow, red, orange, and/or white patterns, and females are wingless. Some fe- a combination of black, yellow, red, orange, and/or white patterns, and females are wingless. Some fe-
males can make a strange squeaking noise when held but don’t try it unless you can avoid being stung! males can make a strange squeaking noise when held but don’t try it unless you can avoid being stung!
These ants range from 1/4th to 7/8ths inch in length. These ants range from 1/4th to 7/8ths inch in length.

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