Cyphomyrmex

Cyphomyrmex is a genus of fungus-growing ants found primarily in South and Central America. However, some species do come up to the southern portion of North America. They grow a variety of fungi in the tribe Leucocoprineae. Most fungal gardens are grown in small nodules, some species to cultivate entire mycelium, though. Colonies are monogynous and are relatively small with about 100 workers on average.

== Taxonomy == This genus is within the subfamily Myrmicinae and the tribe Attini. Cyphomyrmex is a more basal part of this phylogenetic relationship. With more recent phylogenetic studies, more derived genera are placed ahead of this genus, now making it sister to the genus Mycetophylax. The fungi that are grown by attine ants, like Cyphomyrmex, follow similar diversification as their ant cultivators. Also, chemicals used throughout the attine ants are derived from one another. So, those used by Cyphomyrmex provided a base plan for more complex mixtures that are found in higher genera, like Trachymyrmex. This helps to relate attine ants to one another and even separate species as chemical profiles can be particularly unique.