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Acromyrmex versicolor

Name: Acromyrmex versicolor
SKU: 10090
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SKU: N/A Categories: Ants, Ants for the Discerning, Ants from North America

Acromyrmex versicolor are desert fungus-growing ants from the southwestern United States that cultivate their own food fungus and feed it leaves, flower petals, and grasses. This species is impressive and extremely interesting in terms of behavior, but demanding – the key is a stable, moist fungus chamber with a dry arena for feeding. For intermediate and advanced breeders looking for a "living laboratory" of insect-fungus cooperation.

Species: Acromyrmex versicolor (desert fungus-growing ants)
Origin: southwestern USA and northern Mexico (semi-desert biotopes)
Difficulty: high – requires a stable fungus chamber
Castes/soldiers: yes – distinct polymorphism (minors/medians/majors)
Size: queen approx. 12–15 mm, workers 3–12 mm
Colour: brownish-red, with characteristic spines (typical of Acromyrmex)
Lifestyle: terrestrial; long foraging trails, separate "trash" chamber
Temperature: fungus chamber 24–27°C; arena 22–28°C
Humidity: mushroom chamber 80–90%; arena dry with good ventilation
Hibernation: none – species active all year round
Feeding (for fungus): leaves/plant fragments without pesticides (blackberry, rose, raspberry, privet, hibiscus), grasses; test small portions
Recommended formicarium: Arena MK II 20x20, with a cup to keep the fungus in high humidity conditions. In the future, connect a second identical arena as an enclosure.
Tips: small portions of fresh "green" food, frequent refreshing, absolute ban on plant protection products. C

Acromyrmex versicolor – desert fungus-growing ants from the USA. They cultivate a food fungus; they need a humid chamber (80-90%) and a dry arena. For advanced breeders.

Clean the trash regularly

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Description

Description

Acromyrmex versicolor – desert fungus-growing ants that will turn your formicarium into a mini-garden

Imagine a colony that doesn’t just “eat,” but grows its own food. Acromyrmex versicolor are just such ants—fungus-growing ants from the southwestern United States. In nature, they work on the edge of the impossible: they build moist fungus chambers under the dry, hot desert sun. In captivity, they can be absolutely mesmerizing – worker ants cut microscopic strips of leaves and petals, carry them like colorful flags, and weave the material into a white, living fungus in their “garden” nest. Day by day, you can see how a few handfuls of green food turn into a pulsating, garden-scented “flower bed.”

Why these ants are as addictive as a TV series

A spectacle of teamwork – night or morning marches, cutting leaves, building “highways,” and then meticulously tending to the mushroom in the chamber.
Color in motion – they accept not only leaves, but also rose, hibiscus, and marigold petals; the arena is decorated with a new “bouquet” every few moments.
Less “giant,” more finesse – this is not Atta with hundreds of thousands of workers. Acromyrmex versicolor practices more “intimate” gardening, which is easier to master at home.
Live biology – a pure lesson in symbiosis: ants take care of the fungus, and the fungus feeds the ants.

How to manage them so that the fungus grows and does not disappear

The key is a set of three zones:

Mushroom chamber – the heart of the colony. Warm (around 24–27 °C during the day), humid (80–90%), but well ventilated. No drafts, no direct sprinkling on the mushroom. Use gypsum as a water reservoir on which the mushroom rests – moisture comes from below, not from mist.
Feeding area – dry, airy, with an escape barrier. This is where you feed the mushrooms “green” in small portions – preferably finely chopped to make it easier for the gardeners.
“Trash can” – a separate container for used material (dark, crumbly “chaff”). Regular removal of waste by ants is a sign that everything is working; your task is to empty it frequently so as not to feed the mites.

Daily routine: small portions of fresh leaves/petals, condensation control (if it appears on the walls of the chamber, improve ventilation), refreshing the water in the reservoir, quick removal of waste. It is better to feed less and more often than “in advance.”

What to feed “mushroom pickers”

The safest option is pesticide-free plants:

leaves: blackberry, raspberry, rose, strawberry, privet, dandelion, delicate grasses;
petals and inflorescences: rose, hibiscus, marigold, cornflower;
seasonal additions: grass inflorescences, young herb leaves with a weak aroma.

Avoid strongly aromatic plants (sage, rosemary, eucalyptus), milky juices (ficus, poinsettia) and anything from the city/market without certainty that it has not been sprayed.