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Chicatana Leafcutter Ant
Atta mexicana
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumArthropoda (Arthropods)
- ClassInsecta (Insects)
- OrderHymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps, and Sawflies)
- FamilyFormicidae (Ants)
- GenusAtta
- SpeciesAtta mexicana (Chicatana Leafcutter Ant)
In 3 days ~30% in a week ~60%
9 Verified sightings at Cañón del Sumidero National Park From 2019 to 2026
73 In all 2 parks
June Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted
About the Chicatana Leafcutter Ant
Atta mexicana is a species of leaf-cutter ant, a New World ant of the subfamily Myrmicinae of the genus Atta. This species is from one of the two genera of advanced attines (fungus-growing ants) within the tribe Attini.
The queen is approximately 30 mm long, and dark brown. Workers are dark brown, with short spines. The much larger soldiers grow up to 18 mm, and are even more armored with short spines. The ants cut leaves and grow a basidiomycete fungus called Leucoagaricus gongylophorus (Agaricaceae) with them. Oleic acid is one of their undertaking triggers.
A. mexicana is found in Mexico (where it is commonly called hormiga chicatana, hormiga podadora de hoja/desert ant and mochomo), and crosses into Arizona, United States. This species is highly adaptive, and thrives in such urban areas as Puerto Vallarta. Densities of A. mexicana nests are very high in numerous areas, including the resort community of Nuevo Vallarta.
The species is found in various locations of central and southern Mexico during the start of the rainy season, when the soil becomes wet and the ants leave for their nuptial flight. That time of the year is... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Chicatana Leafcutter Ant in Cañón del Sumidero National Park
LIVEiNaturalistGlobal Distribution
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cumbres de Monterrey National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 2 | Cañón del Sumidero National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico |
Cities Where Found
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | León | 🇲🇽 México | |
| 2 | Guatemala City | 🇬🇹 Guatemala | |
| 3 | Tegucigalpa | 🇭🇳 Honduras | |
| 4 | Guadalajara | 🇲🇽 México | |
| 5 | Puebla | 🇲🇽 México | |
| 6 | Monterrey | 🇲🇽 México | |
| 7 | San Luis Potosí | 🇲🇽 México | |
| 8 | San Salvador | 🇸🇻 El Salvador |
Closest Relatives at Cañón del Sumidero National Park
Before you go
What are the chances of seeing a Chicatana Leafcutter Ant in Cañón del Sumidero National Park?
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Chicatana Leafcutter Ant sighting in Cañón del Sumidero National Park on a given day, based on 9 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 19th most-seen of the 46 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 60%, if each day is a fresh chance.
When is the best time to see a Chicatana Leafcutter Ant in Cañón del Sumidero National Park?
February and May–June
In those months about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Chicatana Leafcutter Ant in Cañón del Sumidero National Park on a given day, against under 5% in March, July–August and October–December, the lowest months.
What time of day is best to see a Chicatana Leafcutter Ant?
Between 3 and 6 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Chicatana Leafcutter Ant sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Is Cañón del Sumidero National Park the best place to see a Chicatana Leafcutter Ant?
Among the best
Of the 2 parks where we can rate Chicatana Leafcutter Ant sightings, Cañón del Sumidero National Park ranks 2nd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Cumbres de Monterrey National Park (Mexico, about 10%).
Where does the Chicatana Leafcutter Ant sighting chance come from?
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Chicatana Leafcutter Ant is recorded against all the insects logged in Cañón del Sumidero National Park (9 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
