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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.

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alexwild > The sharp mandibles of an Atta sexdens worker finish off a cut.

alexwild > A pair of Atta texana workers on a foraging trail. Texas, USA.

alexwild > Atta texana. Texas, USA.

alexwild > Atta cephalotes is the most conspicuous leafcutter species in Central America and northern South America.

alexwild > A mature colony of millions of leafcutter ants can consume as much vegetation per day as can a cow. Here a trail of ants brings home a stready steam of leaves to feed their underground fungus.

Atta cephalotes. Ecuador.

alexwild > Atta texana. Texas, USA.

alexwild > The jaws of the leafcutter are versatile and capable of more than just slicing vegetation. Here workers carry bits of soil out from an excavation deep within the nest.

Atta texana. Texas, USA.

alexwild > A mating swarm of the desert leafcutter Acromyrmex versicolor. These ants conduct spectacular early morning flights at the beginning of Arizona's monsoon season. Tucson, Arizona, USA.

alexwild > Acromyrmex versicolor - Desert Leafcutter.

filename: versicolor34

A mature colony of millions of leafcutter ants can consume as much vegetation per day as can a cow. Here a trail of ants brings home a stready steam of leaves to feed their underground fungus.

Atta cephalotes. Ecuador.

> A mature colony of millions of leafcutter ants can consume as much vegetation per day as can a cow. Here a trail of ants brings home a stready steam of leaves to feed their underground fungus.

Atta cephalotes. Ecuador.

A mature colony of millions of leafcutter ants can consume as much vegetation per day as can a cow. Here a trail of ants brings home a stready steam of leaves to feed their underground fungus.

Atta cephalotes. Ecuador.

Camera: Nikon (E995) |

More details: exif |

Original size: 1878px x 1368px |

Current: 400px x 292px |

Other sizes: Small • M |

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Keywords: bugs tropical ants nature ecuador insect insects tropics leafcutter hymenoptera atta entomology formicidae myrmicinae cephalotes attini attine leafcutting

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all images and text © Alex Wild 2008

insect pictures, insect images, insect photos, insect photography, ant images, bug pictures, bug photographs, insect identification, ant pictures

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