Cares about the animals in shipment very well. Would definitely buy from again!
Texas Leafcutter Ant (Atta texana)
Regular price
$250.00
Live arrival guarantee. Your ants arrive alive and healthy, or we send a free replacement within 5 days.
FREE Overnight Shipping on orders $100+. Add a second queen or colony and most orders qualify. Under $100, it's $24.99 flat.
Ships via UPS Next Day Air, Monday to Thursday, and arrives by noon the next day. Heat or ice pack included free.
Secure checkout. Pay with card, Shop Pay, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.
Customer Reviews
Overall rating: 5.0 / 5 from 5 reviews.
bought this a while back and just wanted to say the colony is still going strong. definitely a healthy founding group.
All alive, all active. Excellent.
third colony from here and the quality is consistent every single time. cant say that about other sellers.
honestly cheaper than i expected for the number of workers you get. really good deal. The fungus garden is coming along and theyre cutting leaves like crazy
American Ant Store
Texas Leafcutter Ant (Atta texana)
Description
Atta texana (Texas Leafcutter Ant)
Atta texana, commonly known as the Texas Leafcutter Ant or "town ant," is the most advanced ant species native to the United States. Found across the pine forests and clay soils of East Texas and western Louisiana, these ants are true fungus farmers. They cut and carry sections of leaves back to their nest, not to eat, but to cultivate a specialized fungus that feeds the entire colony. Among leaf cutter ants for sale, A. texana is the only Atta species native to the U.S., which makes it the centerpiece colony for serious keepers.
Leafcutter colonies are highly organized, with multiple worker castes ranging from tiny "minims" that tend the fungus garden to large soldiers that defend the nest. Watching a foraging trail form, a moving ribbon of green leaf fragments carried above the workers' heads, is one of the most incredible sights in the entire hobby. Few species show off the intelligence and division of labor of an ant colony quite like Atta texana.
This is an advanced species, and the fungus is the part you are really keeping. Hold the garden between 72 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit and never put a heat cable or heat mat on it, since the fungus dies above roughly 85. Keep the garden chamber at 70 to 90 percent humidity by watering an absorbent base layer rather than the fungus itself, and feed only plant material you know is free of pesticide and fungicide residue. Leafcutters need no diapause. Plan the leaf supply before you order, because demand climbs as the garden grows. Read our leafcutter ant care guide first.
Each order is a healthy, established Atta texana queen with the beginnings of her fungus garden, packed with care and shipped with our Live Arrival Guarantee. Native range assignment: Texas and Louisiana.
Colony Options
- 1 Queen: single queen with ~30 workers and a golf-ball-size fungus garden. $250
- 2 Queens: two queens with ~40-50 workers and a golf-ball-size fungus garden. $299.99
- 3 Queens: three queens with ~50-70 workers and an apple-size fungus garden. $350
Every colony ships as an established, actively growing fungus garden with our Live Arrival Guarantee.
Learn more: Leafcutter Ant Care Guide | All Leaf Cutting Ants | Live Arrival Guarantee
Shipping Information
Shipping happens from Monday-Thursday via UPS Next Day Air. Flat Rate $24.99 Charge. From the moment your order is shipped you can expect to receive them no later than 12pm the following day!
Please note, orders take between 1 to 3 business days to process and ship. If you would like your order to be shipped the same day please email us at support@americanantstore.com with your order number as the subject line and the email text "SHIP TODAY". We will do our best to ensure it goes out the same day!
During the summer ants are shipped with an icepack at no additional charge. The same goes for shipments during winter with a heat pack!
Live Arrival Guarantee
Live Arrival Guarantee
Every colony we ship is backed by our Premium Live Arrival Guarantee. We pack with care so your ants arrive alive, healthy, and ready to thrive.
5-Day Health Guarantee
We proudly offer an industry-leading 5-day health guarantee on all colonies. If your queen or colony declines within this period, we will provide one complimentary replacement, no questions asked.
Simple, Hassle-Free Replacement Process
If an issue occurs, just send clear photo proof within 5 days of delivery and we’ll take care of the rest.
Email: support@americanantstore.com
Live Animal Responsibility
These are live animals. We are not responsible for ants left outside in extreme temperatures, including summer heat or winter cold, or for packages that sit unattended after delivery. Proper and prompt retrieval is essential for their safety.
Commitment to Quality
We take exceptional care in raising, packing, and shipping every colony, and we stand behind the quality of each queen or colony we send out.