Cyphomyrmex is a genus of fungus-growing ants found primarily in South and Central America.

Most fungal gardens are grown in small nodules, some species to cultivate entire mycelium, though.

So, those used by Cyphomyrmex provided a base plan for more complex mixtures that are found in higher genera, like Trachymyrmex.

This helps to relate attine ants to one another and even separate species as chemical profiles can be particularly unique.

Species in the rimosus group can be noted by their anteriorly open antennal scrobe and the five teeth on their mandibles.

[9] As is found across genera, as ant workers age they progressively move out of the colony.

These older workers have the most diverse diet, consisting of sugary substances derived mostly from plants found from their foraging trips.

The queen’s diet is primarily mycophagous, however some sugars are fed to her from the older, foraging workers.

This type of growth is known for clusters of small patches of fungus on irregularly shaped nodules full of single-celled yeast-like cells.

First, workers will clean a portion of the ground and place insect feces, an old exoskeleton, or another organic item like a leaf.

It contributes to trail following behaviors, and potentially more importantly, influences agriculture practices.

The presence of farnesenes seems to be unique to Cyphomyrmex among the fungus-growing ants; however, other genera across the family Formicidae also possess it.

Sometimes C. cornutus even plays dead when they are stung or in contact with their parasite, showing that the venom has evolved to not be extremely toxic to them and simply manipulate social behavior.

[18] Common nest sites for species can range from in the soil, under rotting logs, within hollow and dead twigs.

[14] Therefore, a variety of species can found colonies in a wide range of habitats and ecosystems.