Genus Cyphomyrmex Mayr

There are two species of Cyphomyrmex recorded from California, both ground­nesting and infrequently encountered. These fungus­growing ants collect caterpillar frass and other organic matter, on which they cultivate fungal mycelia or (in some species) yeasts.

Species identification: keys in Snelling and Longino (1992). Additional references: De Andrade (2003), Kempf (1964d, 1966), Schultz et al. (2002), Weber (1972).