Leafcutter ants are conspicuous insects in warmer regions of the Americas. These spiny, charismatic ants are expert farmers, cultivating their food- a specialized fungus- in extensive underground galleries. The cut leaves are not consumed directly by the ants but are used to grow the fungus.
What becomes of the leaves taken underground into the ants' nest? The leaves are cut into small pieces and fed to a specialized fungus that grows only within leafcutter nests. The fungus can be seen here as fluffy white mycelia growing across the green leaf matter.
Atta cephalotes. Central America.
Atta cephalotes. Central America.
What becomes of the leaves taken underground into the ants' nest? The leaves are cut into small pieces and fed to a specialized fungus that grows only within leafcutter nests. The fungus can be seen here as fluffy white mycelia growing across the green leaf matter.
Atta cephalotes. Central America.
Atta cephalotes. Central America.
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in this box:all images and text © Alex Wild 2008
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