Ant nest beetle Ant nest beetle Ant nest beetles (subfamily Paussinae) or paussines, some members of which are known also as flanged bombardier beetles, are a large subfamily within the ground beetles (Carabidae). The tribes Metriini, Ozaenini, Paussini and Protopaussini are included in the subfamily. Rarely seen, most Paussinae are obligate or facultative myrmecophiles, living within the nests of ants, predatory on ant larvae and workers. Many have elaborate antennal structures and body parts flattened. Paussines are moderate sized (6–20 mm), characterised by glandular hairs that produce secretions attractive to ants and by the odd antennal structures of many species. Their pygidial glands
Leafcutter ant virulent fungus, has the potential to devastate an ant garden, as it is horizontally transmitted. "Escovopsis" was cultured, during colony foundation, in 6.6% of colonies. However, in one- to two-year-old colonies, almost 60% had "Escovopsis" growing in the fungal garden. In some parts of their range, leafcutter ants can be a serious agricultural pest, defoliating crops and damaging roads and farmland with their nest-making activities. For example, some "Atta" species are capable of defoliating an entire citrus tree in less than 24 hours. A promising approach to deterring attacks of the leafcutter ant "Acromyrmex lobicornis" on crops has been demonstrated.