Myrmecocystus testaceus is a species of ant.[1] Found throughout southern United States, this species of ant is usually nocturnal, and nests in sand.
| Myrmecocystus mexicanus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Profile view of ant Myrmecocystus testaceus specimen | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Formicinae |
| Genus: | Myrmecocystus |
| Species: | M. testaceus
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| Binomial name | |
| Myrmecocystus testaceus Emery, 1893
| |
They can spray formic acid out of their gaster to melt skin tissue. instead of stinging and swarming, they normally stretch out the prey by the legs until it splits or dies from bites and formic acid.
References
edit- ^ Joshua D. Day; Tara B. B. Bishop; Samuel B. St. Clair (2018). "Fire and plant invasion, but not rodents, alter ant community abundance and diversity in a semi‐arid desert". Ecosphere. 9 (7): e02344–. doi:10.1002/ecs2.2344. ISSN 2150-8925.