[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":394},["ShallowReactive",2],{"species-sheet-\u002Fspecies\u002Facromyrmex-octospinosus":3},{"species":4,"profile":265,"countryNames":302,"lookalikes":317,"similar":319,"posts":373},{"id":5,"authority":6,"colonyStructure":7,"confidence":8,"countries":12,"defense":27,"diet":29,"difficulty":32,"dryHumidity":33,"escapeRisk":9,"estimated":34,"experience":40,"extension":41,"finder":42,"founding":43,"growth":44,"guide":33,"hibernation":45,"hibernationMonths":33,"hibernationTemperature":33,"humidity":46,"image":49,"imageCredit":50,"imageHeight":54,"imageWidth":55,"interests":33,"keptSince":33,"legal":56,"lookalikes":59,"majorSize":61,"maxWorkers":62,"meta":63,"nests":64,"nuptialFlightMonths":67,"nuptialFlightTime":33,"nuptialFlightTriggers":70,"polymorphism":72,"queenSize":73,"regions":75,"relatedPosts":78,"reviewedAt":58,"scientificName":82,"sources":83,"stem":250,"subfamily":251,"temperature":252,"tribe":255,"workerSize":256,"__hash__":259,"slug":260,"genus":261,"nickname":262,"aliases":263,"tagline":264},"species\u002Fspecies\u002Facromyrmex-octospinosus.yml","(Reich, 1793)","monogyne",{"biology":9,"husbandry":10,"nuptialFlight":11},"high","medium","low",[13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26],"MX","GT","HN","NI","CR","PA","CO","EC","VE","GF","TT","CU","BR","PE",[28],"bite",[30,31],"leaves","sugar","7",null,[35,36,37,38,39],"humidity","nuptialFlightMonths","workerSize","queenSize","maxWorkers","compiled","yml",false,"semiClaustral","fast","none",[47,48],80,95,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fspecies\u002Facromyrmex-octospinosus.jpg",{"author":51,"license":52,"url":53},"Elias Freyhof (eliasfreyhof36614)","CC BY 4.0","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.inaturalist.org\u002Fobservations\u002F206829738",800,1200,{"status":57,"checked":58},"restricted","2026-10-11",[60],"Acromyrmex insinuator",12,20000,{},[65,66],"acrylic","naturalistic",[68,69],5,7,[71],"rain","polymorphic",[61,74],14,[76,77],"northAmerica","southAmerica",[79,80,81],"keeping-leafcutter-ants-v2-the-ant-pod","preparing-ants-for-vacation-the-ant-pod","where-to-find-ant-farms-for-sale","Acromyrmex octospinosus",[84,92,96,102,106,110,114,118,122,126,130,134,138,144,148,152,156,160,164,168,172,176,181,185,189,193,197,201,205,209,213,217,221,225,230,234,238,242,246],{"type":85,"title":86,"url":87,"covers":88},"paper","Mera-Rodríguez, Fernández-Marín and Rabeling (2025), Systematic Entomology 50: Phylogenomic approach to integrative taxonomy resolves a century-old taxonomic puzzle and the evolutionary history of the Acromyrmex octospinosus species complex (echinatior, volcanus and three subspecies are synonyms, facultative polygyny, range)","https:\u002F\u002Fdoi.org\u002F10.1111\u002Fsyen.12665",[89,90,91],"taxonomy","biology","distribution",{"type":85,"title":93,"url":94,"covers":95},"Fernández-Marín, Zimmerman and Wcislo (2003), Insectes Sociaux 50: Nest-founding in Acromyrmex octospinosus, demography and putative prophylactic behaviors (foundresses forage for leaves)","https:\u002F\u002Fdoi.org\u002F10.1007\u002Fs00040-003-0687-z",[90],{"type":97,"title":98,"url":99,"covers":100},"reference","Longino: Ants of Costa Rica, Acromyrmex octospinosus (identification, nest sites, predawn alates)","https:\u002F\u002Fants.biology.utah.edu\u002Fgenera\u002Facromyrmex\u002Fspecies\u002Foctospinosus\u002Foctospinosus.html",[89,90,91,101],"nuptialFlight",{"type":85,"title":103,"url":104,"covers":105},"Mikheyev (2008), Biological Invasions 10: History, genetics and pathology of a leaf-cutting ant introduction, a case study of the Guadeloupe invasion","https:\u002F\u002Fdoi.org\u002F10.1007\u002Fs10530-007-9144-7",[89,90,91],{"type":85,"title":107,"url":108,"covers":109},"Célini, Roy, Delabie, Questel and Mora (2012), Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France 117: Présence et origine d’Acromyrmex octospinosus à Saint-Barthélemy (identification, range, introduced populations, crops attacked)","https:\u002F\u002Flasef.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002FBSEF\u002F117-2\u002F3-1589_Celini_et_al.pdf",[89,90,91],{"type":85,"title":111,"url":112,"covers":113},"Dumbardon-Martial and Pierre (2020), Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France 125: Expansion d’Acromyrmex octospinosus dans l’archipel guadeloupéen","https:\u002F\u002Fdoi.org\u002F10.32475\u002Fbsef_2131",[91],{"type":85,"title":115,"url":116,"covers":117},"Bekkevold, Frydenberg and Boomsma (1999), Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 46: Multiple mating and facultative polygyny in the Panamanian leafcutter ant Acromyrmex echinatior (a name now treated as a synonym of A. octospinosus)","https:\u002F\u002Fdoi.org\u002F10.1007\u002Fs002650050598",[90],{"type":85,"title":119,"url":120,"covers":121},"Boomsma, Fjerdingstad and Frydenberg (1999), Proceedings of the Royal Society B 266: Multiple paternity, relatedness and genetic diversity in Acromyrmex leaf-cutter ants (queens mate with at least four to ten males)","https:\u002F\u002Fdoi.org\u002F10.1098\u002Frspb.1999.0629",[90],{"type":97,"title":123,"url":124,"covers":125},"Wikipedia: Acromyrmex octospinosus","https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FAcromyrmex_octospinosus",[89,90,91],{"type":97,"title":127,"url":128,"covers":129},"Wikipedia: Acromyrmex (ant genus), differences from Atta","https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FAcromyrmex",[89,90],{"type":97,"title":131,"url":132,"covers":133},"GBIF: Acromyrmex octospinosus (Reich, 1793), occurrence records by country","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gbif.org\u002Fspecies\u002F1320686",[89,91],{"type":97,"title":135,"url":136,"covers":137},"iNaturalist: Acromyrmex octospinosus observations annotated as male (winged males by month and country)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.inaturalist.org\u002Fobservations?taxon_id=265941&term_id=9&term_value_id=11",[101],{"type":139,"title":140,"url":141,"covers":142},"careSheet","Antstore: Acromyrmex octospinosus","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.antstore.net\u002Fshop\u002Fen\u002Fants\u002FAnts-from-America\u002FAcromyrmex-octospinosus.html",[143,90,101],"husbandry",{"type":139,"title":145,"url":146,"covers":147},"ANTCUBE: Guide for the top 10 ant species to keep at home, Acromyrmex octospinosus","https:\u002F\u002Fantcube.shop\u002Fen\u002F2025\u002F09\u002F03\u002Fguide-for-the-top-10-ant-species-to-keep-at-home\u002F",[143,90],{"type":139,"title":149,"url":150,"covers":151},"Ant Shack: Acromyrmex octospinosus care sheet","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ant-shack.com\u002Fpages\u002Fencyclopedia-entry\u002Facromyrmex-octospinosus",[143,90],{"type":139,"title":153,"url":154,"covers":155},"FormicaMarket: Acromyrmex octospinosus care guide","https:\u002F\u002Fformicamarket.com\u002Fen\u002Fant-database\u002Facromyrmex-octospinosus\u002F",[143],{"type":139,"title":157,"url":158,"covers":159},"ANTonTOP: Acromyrmex octospinosus","https:\u002F\u002Fantontop.com\u002Fants\u002Fexotic-ants\u002Facromyrmex-octospinosus\u002F",[143,90],{"type":139,"title":161,"url":162,"covers":163},"AntMeUp: Acromyrmex octospinosus care","https:\u002F\u002Fantmeup.de\u002Fen\u002Fpages\u002Facromyrmex-octospinosus",[143],{"type":139,"title":165,"url":166,"covers":167},"Ameisenhaltung.de: Artenverzeichnis, Acromyrmex octospinosus","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ameisenhaltung.de\u002Fartenverzeichnis\u002Fentry\u002F1-acromyrmex-octospinosus\u002F",[143,90],{"type":139,"title":169,"url":170,"covers":171},"antkeeping.info: Acromyrmex octospinosus (nest climate, queen and worker sizes, polygyny)","https:\u002F\u002Fantkeeping.info\u002Fants\u002Facromyrmex-octospinosus",[143,90],{"type":139,"title":173,"url":174,"covers":175},"Leaf Cutting Ants (Andrew Stephenson): care of leaf-cutting ant colonies in captivity","http:\u002F\u002Fwww.leafcuttingants.com\u002Farticle01.html",[143],{"type":177,"title":178,"url":179,"covers":180},"forum","Formiculture: Ultimate Guide to Leafcutter Ants (CheetoLord02: never heat the fungus, vary the food plants)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.formiculture.com\u002Ftopic\u002F15532-old-cheetos-ultimate-guide-to-leafcutter-ants%E2%84%A2\u002F",[143],{"type":177,"title":182,"url":183,"covers":184},"Formiculture: Ziggy Leaf Cutters (Acromyrmex octospinosus journal, shipping losses, heating the air, escape over a PTFE barrier)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.formiculture.com\u002Ftopic\u002F17769-ziggys-leaf-cutters-acromyrmex-octospinosus\u002F",[143],{"type":177,"title":186,"url":187,"covers":188},"Ameisenforum: Manticutters, Acromyrmex octospinosus Haltungsbericht von Manticor (climate logs, heat limit, failed founding)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ameisenforum.de\u002Fviewtopic.php?f=200&t=61274",[143],{"type":177,"title":190,"url":191,"covers":192},"Ameisenforum: Haltungsbericht Acromyrmex octospinosus (404, with advice from Harry4ANT on colony size, hoods and sugar)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ameisenforum.de\u002Fviewtopic.php?f=200&t=62850",[143],{"type":177,"title":194,"url":195,"covers":196},"Ameisenforum: Acromyrmex octospinosus (marcel, 2024-2025 colony growth and food plants)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ameisenforum.de\u002Fviewtopic.php?f=200&t=64216",[143],{"type":177,"title":198,"url":199,"covers":200},"Ameisenforum: Acromyrmex octospinosus Ameisenhaltungsbericht (marcel, a colony with two queens and no brood)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ameisenforum.de\u002Fviewtopic.php?f=200&t=63882",[143],{"type":177,"title":202,"url":203,"covers":204},"Ameisenforum: Acromyrmex octospinosus Vlodex (climate and food plants)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ameisenforum.de\u002Fviewtopic.php?f=200&t=64258",[143],{"type":177,"title":206,"url":207,"covers":208},"Ameisenforum: Acromyrmex octospinosus, Gründung mit 20-30 Arbeitern (AllesinButter, pesticide losses)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ameisenforum.de\u002Fviewtopic.php?f=200&t=53005",[143],{"type":177,"title":210,"url":211,"covers":212},"Ameisenforum: Acromyrmex octospinosus Haltungsbericht 2018 (failed hygrometer and fungus relocation)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ameisenforum.de\u002Fviewtopic.php?f=200&t=57624",[143],{"type":177,"title":214,"url":215,"covers":216},"Ameisenforum: Acromyrmex octospinosus (A_E_I_O_U, fungus loss on a winter diet of dry food)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ameisenforum.de\u002Fviewtopic.php?f=200&t=50093",[143],{"type":177,"title":218,"url":219,"covers":220},"Ameisenforum: Acromyrmex cf. octospinosus Haltungsbericht (shop stock sold as cf.)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ameisenforum.de\u002Fviewtopic.php?f=200&t=46731",[143],{"type":177,"title":222,"url":223,"covers":224},"Ameisenforum: Acromyrmex octospinosus (Linske4, 2026 setup with climate values)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ameisenforum.de\u002Fviewtopic.php?f=200&t=65006",[143],{"type":97,"title":226,"url":227,"covers":228},"EU list of invasive alien species of Union concern (Implementing Regulation 2016\u002F1141, consolidated)","https:\u002F\u002Feur-lex.europa.eu\u002Feli\u002Freg_impl\u002F2016\u002F1141\u002Foj",[229],"legal",{"type":97,"title":231,"url":232,"covers":233},"Arrêté du 7 juillet 2020 (Guadeloupe): introduction, holding, transport and sale of live Acromyrmex octospinosus (fourmi manioc) banned, authorization only (text reproduced by INERIS AIDA)","https:\u002F\u002Faida.ineris.fr\u002Freglementation\u002Farrete-070720-relatif-a-prevention-lintroduction-propagation-especes-animales",[229],{"type":97,"title":235,"url":236,"covers":237},"Arrêté du 7 juillet 2020 (Martinique): the same ban on live Acromyrmex octospinosus (text reproduced by INERIS AIDA)","https:\u002F\u002Faida.ineris.fr\u002Freglementation\u002Farrete-070720-relatif-a-regulation-lintroduction-propagation-especes-animales",[229],{"type":97,"title":239,"url":240,"covers":241},"MITECO: Spanish Catalogue of Invasive Alien Species, arthropods","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.miteco.gob.es\u002Fen\u002Fbiodiversidad\u002Ftemas\u002Fconservacion-de-especies\u002Fespecies-exoticas-invasoras\u002Fce_eei_artropodos_nc.html",[229],{"type":97,"title":243,"url":244,"covers":245},"Japan Ministry of the Environment: list of designated invasive alien species (Invasive Alien Species Act)","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.env.go.jp\u002Fnature\u002Fintro\u002F2outline\u002Flist.html",[229],{"type":97,"title":247,"url":248,"covers":249},"Bundesartenschutzverordnung (BArtSchV), Anlage 1: protected species in Germany","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gesetze-im-internet.de\u002Fbartschv_2005\u002Fanlage_1.html",[229],"species\u002Facromyrmex-octospinosus","Myrmicinae",[253,254],23,27,"Attini",[257,258],2,9,"DAcSHzEu2gKXud_NOmUDE2ZuuXaEw4LX4y4NX2bz1vI","acromyrmex-octospinosus","Acromyrmex","",[],"A spiny, rough-skinned leafcutter that farms fungus on roses and bramble and cuts flowers and fruit as eagerly as leaves.",{"id":266,"title":267,"aliases":263,"body":268,"description":262,"extension":273,"faqs":274,"identification":284,"language":285,"meta":286,"navigation":287,"nickname":262,"notes":288,"path":299,"seo":300,"stem":250,"tagline":264,"__hash__":301},"speciesProfiles\u002Fspecies\u002Facromyrmex-octospinosus.md","Acromyrmex Octospinosus",{"type":269,"value":270,"toc":271},"minimark",[],{"title":262,"searchDepth":257,"depth":257,"links":272},[],"md",[275,278,281],{"question":276,"answer":277},"Is Acromyrmex echinatior the same species as Acromyrmex octospinosus?","Yes, according to a 2025 study. Until then the octospinosus group was split into several species and subspecies, among them echinatior, volcanus, cubanus, ekchuah and inti. A genome-wide study of populations across the whole range found that these names do not mark separate lineages, so they count as one widespread, variable species, and only the social parasite Acromyrmex insinuator is a separate relative. Shops still sell stock under the old names or with cf. in the label, so the name on a colony says little about its origin.",{"question":279,"answer":280},"How is Acromyrmex octospinosus different from Atta?","Its colonies are smaller, usually tens of thousands of workers rather than millions, its workers vary less in size, and the body is rougher with more spines on the thorax, while Atta is smoother and shinier. The biggest difference is the start: an Atta queen stays sealed in her chamber, but an Acromyrmex octospinosus foundress goes out to cut leaf pieces for her first garden. In a study in Panama only three to seven workers appeared after about three months and roughly half of the new nests died or were abandoned every month, so the start is risky.",{"question":282,"answer":283},"Is Acromyrmex octospinosus an invasive pest?","In places, yes. The species is native from Mexico to Brazil, but it was first noticed on Guadeloupe in 1954, has since colonized nearly the whole island and strips crops such as cassava, citrus and yam. It was later found on Saint-Barthélemy and Marie-Galante as well. Live colonies are therefore banned in Guadeloupe and Martinique unless a permit is granted, and a colony should never be released or allowed to escape.","Orange-brown to dark brown workers of several sizes, with a rough, dull body and spines along the back of the thorax, unlike the smoother, shinier Atta. Stock sold under the old name echinatior counts as the same species since a 2025 revision, and workers vary a lot in size, color and spines between populations.","en",{},true,[289,292,295,297],{"kind":290,"text":291},"tip","Keep the fungus under a small hood and let the colony set its own humidity. When the air gets too dry the workers may carry the garden to the wettest spot they can find: after one keeper's hygrometer silently failed, they moved most of the fungus under damp rose leaves in the feeding area. Check the hygrometer against a second one, and warm the air around the setup rather than the garden itself.",{"kind":293,"text":294},"watchOut","A single sprayed flower can wreck a small colony. After a rose picked on a trip, workers stood motionless or drowned in the sugar water, nearly half of the colony died and the fungus shrank. Only use plants you know are untreated.",{"kind":290,"text":296},"Rose petals and flowers, bramble and privet are the usual staples, and flowers are cut as eagerly as leaves. Winter is the weak point: a colony fed mostly almond flakes saw its fungus shrink by almost half, so plan fresh plants for the cold months, for example potted roses or leaves frozen in the fall, and treat dried petals and oat flakes as a stopgap.",{"kind":293,"text":298},"Start with a healthy colony. Shipped fungus often arrives crumbled, and one keeper bought a colony whose queen turned out to be unmated, so no brood ever appeared. Ask the seller for a recent photo showing brood, and order a spare piece of fungus as a backup.","\u002Fspecies\u002Facromyrmex-octospinosus",{"description":262},"JHLBq3jPWMwO5A8sY-prpaH7MRxpMwKMghIdisuIJLc",[303,304,305,306,307,308,309,310,311,312,313,314,315,316],"Brazil","Colombia","Costa Rica","Cuba","Ecuador","French Guiana","Guatemala","Honduras","Mexico","Nicaragua","Panama","Peru","Trinidad & Tobago","Venezuela",[318],{"name":60,"slug":33},[320,339,359],{"slug":321,"scientificName":322,"genus":323,"nickname":324,"aliases":325,"tagline":328,"image":329,"experience":40,"guide":33,"difficulty":32,"workerSize":330,"majorSize":331,"queenSize":332,"temperature":335,"hibernation":45,"hibernationTemperature":33,"hibernationBand":45,"sizeClass":336,"founding":337,"colonyStructure":7,"regions":338},"atta-cephalotes","Atta cephalotes","Atta","Hairy-headed leafcutter ant",[326,327],"Troublesome umbrella ant","Bachac","The classic leafcutter: shiny red-orange workers of every size carry cut leaf pieces home to feed a living fungus garden.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fspecies\u002Fatta-cephalotes.jpg",[257,61],18,[333,334],22,30,[253,254],"large","claustral",[76,77],{"slug":340,"scientificName":341,"genus":342,"nickname":343,"aliases":344,"tagline":347,"image":348,"experience":40,"guide":33,"difficulty":32,"workerSize":349,"majorSize":350,"queenSize":351,"temperature":354,"hibernation":45,"hibernationTemperature":33,"hibernationBand":45,"sizeClass":336,"founding":337,"colonyStructure":356,"regions":357},"carebara-diversa","Carebara diversa","Carebara","Asian marauder ant",[345,346],"East Indian harvesting ant","Asian army ant","A raiding marauder whose columns of tiny workers and giant-headed majors look like army ants, with the smallest workers riding on the biggest.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fspecies\u002Fcarebara-diversa.jpg",[257,258],15,[352,353],19,25,[355,334],26,"facultative",[358],"asia",{"slug":360,"scientificName":361,"genus":362,"nickname":363,"aliases":364,"tagline":366,"image":367,"experience":40,"guide":33,"difficulty":32,"workerSize":368,"majorSize":334,"queenSize":369,"temperature":371,"hibernation":45,"hibernationTemperature":33,"hibernationBand":45,"sizeClass":336,"founding":337,"colonyStructure":7,"regions":372},"dinomyrmex-gigas","Dinomyrmex gigas","Dinomyrmex","Giant forest ant",[365],"Malaysian giant ant","A night-active giant of the Southeast Asian rain forests, whose sprawling colonies settle border disputes with ritual tournaments between big-headed majors.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fspecies\u002Fdinomyrmex-gigas.jpg",[331,353],[334,370],32,[333,355],[358],[374,381,387],{"id":375,"title":376,"description":377,"image":378,"categoryText":379,"path":380},"blog\u002Fkeeping-leafcutter-ants-v2-the-ant-pod.md","Keeping Leafcutter Ants V2 - The Ant Pod","How to keep leafcutter ants: the best leaves to offer, like bramble and apple, how to prevent escapes and how to keep colony growth under control.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fthe_ant_pod_29_keeping_leafcutter_ants_v2.jpg","Podcasts","\u002Fkeeping-leafcutter-ants-v2-the-ant-pod",{"id":382,"title":383,"description":384,"image":385,"categoryText":379,"path":386},"blog\u002Fpreparing-ants-for-vacation-the-ant-pod.md","Preparing Ants For Vacation - The Ant Pod","Going on vacation? How to prepare your ant colonies: topping up water, long-lasting food, escape-proof setups, room temperature and someone to check in.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fthe_antpod_ants_vacation_47.jpg","\u002Fpreparing-ants-for-vacation-the-ant-pod",{"id":388,"title":389,"description":390,"image":391,"categoryText":392,"path":393},"blog\u002Fwhere-to-find-ant-farms-for-sale.md","Where To Find Ant Farms For Sale","Wanna know where to find ant farms for sale? In this guide, you will learn about the best places to find ant farms for sale on the web!","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fbruma_ants_thumbnail_where_to_find_ant_farms_for_sale.png","Various","\u002Fwhere-to-find-ant-farms-for-sale",1791900222195]