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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 ~50% in a week ~80%
250 Verified sightings at Monterrey
73 In all 2 parks From 2019 to 2026
January 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 Monterrey
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 Monterrey
Before you go
What are the chances of seeing a Chicatana Leafcutter Ant in Monterrey?
Possible
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Chicatana Leafcutter Ant sighting in Monterrey on a given day, based on 250 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 4th most-seen of the 413 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 50%, and over a week to about 80%, if each day is a fresh chance.
When is the best time to see a Chicatana Leafcutter Ant in Monterrey?
January
In that month about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Chicatana Leafcutter Ant in Monterrey on a given day, against about 10% in August, the lowest month. That is one of Monterrey's driest months, with about 20 mm of rain against 200 mm in September.
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 Monterrey the best place to see a Chicatana Leafcutter Ant?
6th of 8
Of the 8 cities where we can rate Chicatana Leafcutter Ant sightings, Monterrey ranks 6th at about 20%. The best odds are in León (México, about 30%), Guatemala City (Guatemala, about 30%) and Tegucigalpa (Honduras, about 20%).
Which relatives of the Chicatana Leafcutter Ant live in Monterrey?
Same family: Formicidae
The closest relatives of the Chicatana Leafcutter Ant that you can see in Monterrey (family Formicidae, Ants) are Graceful Twig Ant (about 10%), Longhorn Crazy Ant (about 10%) and Pachycondyla villosa (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
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 Monterrey (250 verified sightings), 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.
