Azteca alfari
| Latin Name: |  |
Azteca alfari |
| Trivialname: |  |
- |
| Taxonomy: |  |
Subfamily: Dolichoderinae Tribe: Leptomyrmecini |
| Keeping Level: |  |
(3) Species from Southamerica with a obligate symbiosis on cecropiatrees |
| Distribution: |  |
tropical/subtropical Southamerica |
| Habitat: |  |
Cecropiatrees in open and highly disturbed areas |
| Colonyform: |  |
monogyne |
| Queen: |  |
Size: 7 - 9mm Colour: amberbrown |
| Worker: |  |
Size: 2 - 4mm Colour: reddishbrown to amber |
| Soldier: |  |
not present |
| Males: |  |
Size: - Colour: - |
| Nutrition |  |
Honeywater, Insects e.g. Dipterans like Flies or Mosquitos, The diet with only müllerian bodys of cecproia is still not resolved |
| Airhumidity: |  |
Arena: 30 - 50% Nestpart: 50 - 70% |
| Temperature: |  |
Arena: 18 - 28°C Nestpart: 21 - 24°C |
| Hibernation: |  |
no |
| Nestform: |  |
Build their nest in hollow stems of cecropia, polydom |
| Kind of Formicaria: |  |
Basin, Framebasin, Island |
| Formicaria size: |  |
Size: XL large enough to fit ceropia plants |
| Substrate: |  |
Farm: - Arena: Sand, Sand-Loam |
| Planting: |  |
Cecropiaplant |
| Decoration: |  |
Branches, Roots, leaves |
| Description: |  |
Azteca alfari is the most common cecropia ant and can be found in wide range of southamerica. Esspacially in highly disturbed areas they are the dominant specie on Cecropia plants. They aren`t very effective in defending their hostplant against herbvior predators. Small colonies react very aggressive against disturbance while older colonies only show low aggressions against intruders. |
| Development: |  |
matingflight: with the rainseason founding: claustral (without feeding) colonysize: a few 1.000 Individuals |
| Quantity: |  |
one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development) and a Cecropia plant 40-50cm. |
| Weblinks: |  |
- Forum - Reference |