low diversity and overall levels of farnesenes. While mycelium growers are found to have a high diversity of this chemical group in their gaster. The presence of farnesenes seems to be unique to Cyphomyrmex among the fungus-growing ants; however, other genera across the family Formicidae also possess it. Inquilines of Cyphomyrmex can influence the behavior of their hosts. As observed in host associations between C. cornutus and its social parasite Megalomyrmex mondabora, alkaloids in the venom of the parasite cause less aggressive behavior in their host. Sometimes C. cornutus even plays dead when they are stung or in contact with their parasite, showing that the venom has evolved to not be extremely toxic to them and simply manipulate social behavior. The fungi that the ants interact with can also produce important chemicals. Some fungal gardens can produce diketopiperazines, which has antifungal abilities. This is through to either protect the fungi or the ants from other potentially harmful species. Diketopiperazines are thought to possess some antibacterial and antiviral abilities too. Habitat Common nest sites for species can range from in the soil, under rotting logs, within hollow and dead twigs. Some species have specialized nesting habits, such as C. longiscapus. They create swallow nest-like structures that hang underneath overhangs. It is made of soil or clay. The main entrance leads directly to their fungal garden, which should leave them susceptible to desiccation; but they only live in moist habitats so their gardens remain wet. Some inhabit arid environments while others are in wetter conditions, like C. longiscapus. Another species, C. transversus, was observed nesting inside and around dry coconuts. Therefore, a variety of species can found colonies in a wide range of habitats and ecosystems. Distribution They range from Central South America, reaching as south as Argentina. They also reach up into North America, stretching from Texas up to California and even east to Florida. Species Cyphomyrmex andersoni Mackay & Serna, 2010 Cyphomyrmex auritus Mayr, 1887 Cyphomyrmex bicarinatus Snelling & Longino, 1992 Cyphomyrmex bicornis Forel, 1896 Cyphomyrmex bigibbosus Emery, 1894 Cyphomyrmex bruchi Santschi, 1917 Cyphomyrmex castagnei MacKay & Baena, 1993 Cyphomyrmex cornutus Kempf, 1968 Cyphomyrmex costatus Mann, 1922 Cyphomyrmex daguerrei Santschi, 1933 Cyphomyrmex dixus Snelling & Longino, 1992 Cyphomyrmex faunulus Wheeler, 1925 Cyphomyrmex flavidus Pergande, 1896 Cyphomyrmex foxi Andre, 1892 Cyphomyrmex hamulatus Weber, 1938 Cyphomyrmex kirbyi Mayr, 1887 Cyphomyrmex laevigatus Weber, 1938 Cyphomyrmex lectus (Forel, 1911) Cyphomyrmex lilloanus Kusnezov, 1949 Cyphomyrmex