leafcutting ant is rusty brown
several castes with considerable variation in size
queen is approximately 3/4 inch long
common workers range from 1/4 to 1/2 inch in length
colonies usually are found in well-drained sandy soils
colony may consist of a few small mounds or several feet across
mound interior has several chambers and may descend 15 feet
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Photo credit: Extension Entomology, Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University
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worker ants are active from May to September
forage during the night on vegetables abd many other plants
often defoliate plants, carrying severed leaves to their nest
leaves are used to maintain their "fungus garden"
well-defined foraging trails are established by ants
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