Texas leaf cutting ants (Atta texana) with yaupon leaves in Bastrop State Park. Bastrop, Texas, November 28, 2019
White-flowered milkweed (Asclepias variegata) damaged by ants in Big Thicket park, on Kirby Trail. Texas, April 25, 2009
Wild poinsettia (Euphorbia cyathophora) with fire ants in TAMU Holistic Garden in Texas A and M University. College Station, Texas, May 31, 2008
Fire ants on a flower of common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) in TAMU Horticultural Gardens in Texas A and M University. College Station, Texas, January 9, 2009
Flower of Jamaican Poinsettia (Euphorbia punicea) with ants in Rainforest Pyramid of Moody Gardens. Galveston, Texas, January 19, 2013
Fire ants on green milkweed (Asclepias obovata(?)) in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, July 30, 2008
Ants eating a dead copperhead snake in Birch Creek Unit of Lake Somerville State Park, Texas, April 29, 2012
Mound of fire ants on Post Oak Trail in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, April 20, 2008
Entrance hole of a large mound of red harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex barbatus) in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, May 9, 2009
Bluebonnet (lupin) seedling on fire ant mound in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, December 11, 2010
Fire ants eating yellow flower of candle bush (candletree, Cassia alata, Senna alata) in TAMU Holistic Garden in Texas A and M University. College Station, Texas, July 27, 2008
Fire ants on flowers of holly tree in TAMU Horticultural Gardens in Texas A and M University. College Station, Texas, May 1, 2009
Fire ant mound after a rain on Post Oak Trail in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, April 19, 2009
Ant feeding on a fruit of red mulberry (Morus rubra) in TAMU Holistic Garden in Texas A and M University. College Station, Texas, April 30, 2009
Fire ants mound in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, March 19, 2010.
Entrance hole of a large sand mound of red harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex barbatus) in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, May 24, 2009
Mound of fire ants near Post Oak Trail in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, April 20, 2008
Fire ants eating a grasshopper on a road along north shore of Lake Somerville near Birch Creek Unit Somerville Lake State Park. Texas, August 29, 2009
Leaf cutter ant highway in Birch Creek Park near Somerville Lake. Texas, September 17, 2011
Fire ant mound in Bastrop State Park. Bastrop, Texas, September 15, 2012
Ant mounds on a sandy road parallel to power lines in Lake Bryan Park. Bryan, Texas, July 16, 2013
Fire ant mound in freeze on ground in TAMU Horticultural Gardens in Texas A and M University. College Station, Texas, December 16, 2013
Aster flowers on fire ant mound near a pond in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, December 27, 2013
Accumulation of ants on a gravel path in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, August 8, 2014
Fire ant mounds popping up on a lawn after a rain in Bee Creek Park. College Station, Texas, November 3, 2017
Leaf cutter ant highway across a sandy road in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, June 6, 2018
Leaf cutting ant mound on a sandy road in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, June 6, 2019
Texas leaf cutting ants (Atta texana) with fruits of beautyberry in Bastrop State Park. Bastrop, Texas, October 13, 2019
Texas leaf cutting ants (Atta texana) with fruits on a sandy path in Bastrop State Park. Bastrop, Texas, October 13, 2019
Texas leaf cutting ants (Atta texana) carrying fruits of beautyberry in Bastrop State Park. Bastrop, Texas, October 13, 2019
Burrow of harvester ants on a sandy trail in Bastrop State Park. Bastrop, Texas, November 28, 2019
Texas leaf cutting ants (Atta texana) carrying yaupon leaves in Bastrop State Park. Bastrop, Texas, November 28, 2019
Elm catkins collected by ants under a tree in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, October 5, 2019
Accumulation of elm catkins near ant burrows in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, October 5, 2019
Close up of elm catkins collected by ants under a tree in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, October 5, 2019
Harvester ants carrying plant seeds on a sandy trail in Bastrop State Park. Bastrop, Texas, November 28, 2019
Harvester ants with plant seeds on a sandy trail in Bastrop State Park. Bastrop, Texas, November 28, 2019
Orange sand from a Texas leaf cutting ant burrow in Bastrop State Park. Bastrop, Texas, November 28, 2019
Yaupon berries cut by Texas leaf cutting ants (Atta texana) in Bastrop State Park. Bastrop, Texas, November 28, 2019
Masses of Yaupon berries collected by Texas leaf cutting ants (Atta texana) in Bastrop State Park. Bastrop, Texas, November 28, 2019
Nest of red harvester ants in sand in Old Baylor Park. Independence, Texas, May 16, 2020
Prairie threeawn grass (Aristida oligantha)(?) on sand of ant mound in Old Baylor Park. Independence, Texas, September 3, 2020
Frostweed (Verbesina virginica) with an ant on Stubblefield section of Lone Star hiking trail north from Trailhead No. 6 in Sam Houston National Forest. Texas, October 1, 2020
Texas leaf cutting ant (Atta texana) on a sand mound on Richards Loop Trail in Sam Houston National Forest. Texas, November 5, 2020
Texas leaf cutting ants (Atta texana) excavating sand on Richards Loop Trail in Sam Houston National Forest. Texas, November 5, 2020
Texas leaf cutting ants (Atta texana) carrying sand bits on Richards Loop Trail in Sam Houston National Forest. Texas, November 5, 2020
Harvester ant burrow on Lake Somerville Trailway near Nails Creek Unit of Somerville Lake State Park. Texas, November 21, 2020
Blooming sand phlox near harvester ants burrows on Lake Somerville Trailway near Nails Creek Unit of Somerville Lake State Park. Texas, November 21, 2020
Sand burrow of harvester ants on a road in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, November 24, 2020
Sand mounds of Texas leaf cutting ants Atta texana at Lake Somerville Trailway near Birch Creek Unit of Somerville Lake State Park. Texas, December 4, 2020
Rosette of leaves of white prickly poppy (Argemone albiflora) on sand mound of harvester ants on Lake Somerville Trailway in area of Newman Bottom near Nails Creek Unit of Somerville Lake State Park. Texas, February 2, 2021
Winter rosette of leaves of white prickly poppy (Argemone albiflora) on sand mound of harvester ants on Lake Somerville Trailway in area of Newman Bottom near Nails Creek Unit of Somerville Lake State Park. Texas, February 2, 2021
Green leaves of Yaupon holly collected by Texas leaf cutting ants (Atta texana) under oaks on Lake Somerville Trailway in area of Newman Bottom near Nails Creek Unit of Somerville Lake State Park. Texas, February 2, 2021
Small ant on bark of a hackberry tree in Bee Creek Park. College Station, Texas, April 9, 2021
Entrance hole of a large sand mound of red harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex barbatus) in Old Baylor Park. Independence, Texas, April 14, 2021
Crowds of red harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex barbatus) in Old Baylor Park. Independence, Texas, April 14, 2021
Entrance hole of a mound of red harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex barbatus) in Old Baylor Park. Independence, Texas, April 14, 2021
Red harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex barbatus) crowding near their mound in Old Baylor Park. Independence, Texas, April 14, 2021
Masses of red harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex barbatus) near their sand mound in Old Baylor Park. Independence, Texas, April 14, 2021
Masses of red harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex barbatus) carrying plant seeds into their sand mound in Old Baylor Park. Independence, Texas, April 14, 2021
Ants on southern wild senna (Senna marilandica, Cassia) on Richards Loop Trail in Sam Houston National Forest. Texas, August 7, 2021
Ants on flowers of southern wild senna (Senna marilandica, Cassia) on Richards Loop Trail in Sam Houston National Forest. Texas, August 7, 2021
Leaf cutter ant highway across a sandy road in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, August 24, 2021
Fire ant mound on a sandy path in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, October 4, 2021
Red berries and leaves of Yaupon holly cut by ants in Bastrop State Park. Bastrop, Texas, December 25, 2021
Leaf cutter ants highway with berries and leaves of Yaupon holly in Bastrop State Park. Bastrop, Texas, December 25, 2021
Leaf cutter ants in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, February 20, 2022
Leaf cutter ants on sand near their nest in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, February 20, 2022
Leaf cutter ant highway in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, February 20, 2022
Texas leaf cutting ants (Atta texana) with leaves and berries of Yaupon holly in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, March 6, 2022
Burrow of a nest of Texas leaf cutting ants (Atta texana) in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, March 6, 2022
Nest of Texas leaf cutting ants (Atta texana) in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, March 6, 2022
Texas leaf cutting ants (Atta texana) carrying leaves of Yaupon holly in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, March 6, 2022
Close-up of Texas leaf cutting ants (Atta texana) with leaves of Yaupon holly in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, March 6, 2022
Highway of Texas leaf cutting ants (Atta texana) in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, March 6, 2022
Corn speedwell (Veronica arvensis) growing on a fire ant mound in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, March 6, 2022
Echinocereus reichenbachii (lace cactus) with fire ant mounds at Lost Pines Trail in Bastrop State Park. Bastrop, Texas, March 19, 2022
Unripe green and black fruits of evening primrose (Oenothera)(?) collected by leaf-cutting ants at Lake Somerville Trailway near Birch Creek Unit of Somerville Lake State Park. Texas, April 20, 2022
A nest of leaf-cutting ants with green and black fruits of evening primrose (Oenothera)(?) at Lake Somerville Trailway near Birch Creek Unit of Somerville Lake State Park. Texas, April 20, 2022
Linearly arranged ant burrows after a rain on sandy path of Iron Bridge Trail in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, May 2, 2022
Z-shaped ant burrows after a rain on sandy path of Iron Bridge Trail in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, May 2, 2022
Ants removing sand from their burrows after a rain on a path of Iron Bridge Trail in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, May 2, 2022
Large mature brittlegill mushroom Russula albidicremea on cleared roadside at the edge of pine forest (10 m from the road, near an ant burrow) at Forest Service Road 231 near Little Lake Creek Wilderness in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, June 2, 2022
Leaves of Yaupon holly on highway of leafcutting ants at Lake Somerville Trailway near Birch Creek Unit of Somerville Lake State Park. Texas, July 31, 2022
Leaves of Yaupon holly collected by leafcutter ants on the ground in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, August 4, 2022
Small orange funnel-like mushrooms on sandy soil disturbed by fire ants, near rotting pine wood on Sand Branch Loop Trail in Sam Houston National Forest near Montgomery. Texas, September 10, 2022
Close-up of small orange omphalinoid mushrooms on sandy soil disturbed by fire ants, near rotting pine wood on Sand Branch Loop Trail in Sam Houston National Forest near Montgomery. Texas, September 10, 2022
Small orange omphalinoid mushrooms on sandy soil disturbed by fire ants, near rotting pine wood on Sand Branch Loop Trail in Sam Houston National Forest near Montgomery. Texas, September 10, 2022
Details of orange funnel-like mushrooms on sandy soil disturbed by fire ants, near rotting pine wood on Sand Branch Loop Trail in Sam Houston National Forest near Montgomery. Texas, September 10, 2022
Side view of small orange funnel-like mushrooms on sandy soil disturbed by fire ants, near rotting pine wood on Sand Branch Loop Trail in Sam Houston National Forest near Montgomery. Texas, September 10, 2022
Upper and underside views of small orange funnel-like mushrooms on sandy soil disturbed by fire ants, near rotting pine wood on Sand Branch Loop Trail in Sam Houston National Forest near Montgomery. Texas, September 10, 2022
Scale insects and ants on a stalk of pitcher sage (Salvia azurea) near Pole Creek on North Wilderness Trail of Little Lake Creek Wilderness in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, October 6, 2022
Leaf cutting ant s highway on a trailway near Birch Creek Unit of Somerville Lake State Park. Texas, October 12, 2022
Leaf cutter ants carrying fragments of grass in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, February 11, 2023
Leaf cutter ants on sandy soil carrying fragments of grass in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, February 11, 2023
Nest of leaf cutter ants carrying fragments of grass in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, February 11, 2023
Burrow of leaf cutter ants with fragments of grass around in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, February 11, 2023
Burrow of leaf cutter ants among leaves og Yaupon holly on a trailway near Birch Creek Unit of Somerville Lake State Park. Texas, February 15, 2023
Highway of leaf-cutting ants surrounded by cut leaves of Yaupon holly at Lake Somerville Trailway under oaks near Flag Pond, near Nails Creek Unit of Somerville Lake State Park. Texas, March 8, 2023
Large highway of leaf-cutting ants surrounded by cut leaves of Yaupon holly at Lake Somerville Trailway under oaks near Flag Pond, near Nails Creek Unit of Somerville Lake State Park. Texas, March 8, 2023
Lace cactus (Echinocereus reichenbachii) with a mound of fire ants in Bastrop State Park. Bastrop, Texas, April 15, 2023
Slime mold Stemonitis fusca(?) on an ant mound in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, May 4, 2023
Spores of slime mold Stemonitis fusca from an ant mound, collected a day before in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, May 5, 2023
Large sand mounds made by leaf cutting ants on King s Hill in Little Thicket Nature Sanctuary near Cleveland. Texas, February 24, 2024
Sand mounds of leafcutter ants under a tree in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, March 1, 2024
Small, reddish spheres of oak leaf galls (specifically from the gall wasp Belonocnema kinseyi or a related cynipid species) harvested by ants at Lake Somerville Trailway near Birch Creek Unit of Somerville Lake State Park. Texas, December 14, 2025
Oak leaf galls (specifically from the gall wasp Belonocnema kinseyi or a related cynipid species) at Lake Somerville Trailway near Birch Creek Unit of Somerville Lake State Park. Ants harvest the galls, carry them back to the nest to consume the nutritious outer layer, and often discard the hard inner "seed" (which contains the wasp larva) unharmed. This is a newly discovered form of "myrmecochory" (ant dispersal) where the gall wasp manipulates the ants to transport its offspring to the safety of the ant nest. Texas, December 14, 2025
Sand mound of leafcutting ants in Fort Boggy State Park. Leon County, Texas, February 21, 2026
Several rust-colored, spiky-bodied ants can be seen navigating the deeply furrowed bark of an oak tree, acting as a miniature logging crew. Some of the ants are carrying entire green, beaded oak catkins--the tree s string-like flower clusters--while one prominently hoists a freshly cut, bright green section of an oak leaf in its jaws. The ants carry these heavy loads hoisted high over their heads, a posture that resembles someone carrying a sunshade. These are Texas leafcutter ants (Atta texana), a highly destructive but fascinating native species also known as the "town ant" or "parasol ant" due to their unique carrying technique. They climb high into the canopies of oaks and other trees to use their powerful, scissor-like mandibles to slice away fresh foliage, preferring new, tender, high-water-content growth like young leaves and spring catkins. Working in massive, organized trails, a large colony can entirely strip the leaves from a small- to medium-sized tree in a single night, and they frequently travel hundreds of feet from their underground nests to find a suitable harvest. Lake Somerville Trailway near Nails Creek Unit of Somerville Lake State Park. Texas, March 14, 2026
A miniature procession of rust-colored ants traverses the deeply grooved, dry bark of an oak tree. In the center foreground, one ant acts as the focal point, hoisting a freshly cut, bright green slice of an oak leaf high above its head. Because the leaf fragment curves directly over the ant s body like a small green canopy, it perfectly illustrates why this species is often nicknamed the "parasol ant". Surrounding this central figure, three other ants march in the same direction, each carrying large, beaded green oak catkins gripped tightly in their mandibles. These are Texas leafcutter ants (Atta texana), a native species famous for its highly organized and destructive foraging behavior. Working in massive, coordinated trails that can span hundreds of feet, worker ants climb into the canopies of oaks and other trees to systematically slice away fresh, tender vegetation. The workers possess powerful jaws capable of cutting through leaves and flowers with remarkable speed, allowing a large colony to completely strip the foliage from a small tree in a single night. Lake Somerville Trailway near Nails Creek Unit of Somerville Lake State Park. Texas, March 14, 2026
