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.
The cycle continues: an incipient fungus garden sprouts fuzzy white hyphae from the small piece of innoculum that a leafcutter queen carried from her parental nest. The queen has also laid a few pearly white eggs.
Acromyrmex versicolor, the desert leafcutter. Tucson, Arizona, USA.
Acromyrmex versicolor, the desert leafcutter. Tucson, Arizona, USA.
The cycle continues: an incipient fungus garden sprouts fuzzy white hyphae from the small piece of innoculum that a leafcutter queen carried from her parental nest. The queen has also laid a few pearly white eggs.
Acromyrmex versicolor, the desert leafcutter. Tucson, Arizona, USA.
Acromyrmex versicolor, the desert leafcutter. Tucson, Arizona, USA.
in this box:all images and text © Alex Wild 2008
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