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.
Acromyrmex versicolor - Desert Leafcutter Ant - Arizona, USA. A young queen leafcutter ant in her incipient fungus garden. The fungus, seen here as the fuzzy white material, grows on bits of leaves that the ants provide it. Also visible here to the left of the queen are the ants' larvae, which live in the garden consuming the fungus.
filename: versicolor32
filename: versicolor32
Acromyrmex versicolor - Desert Leafcutter Ant - Arizona, USA. A young queen leafcutter ant in her incipient fungus garden. The fungus, seen here as the fuzzy white material, grows on bits of leaves that the ants provide it. Also visible here to the left of the queen are the ants' larvae, which live in the garden consuming the fungus.
filename: versicolor32
filename: versicolor32
Camera: Canon (Canon Eos 20d) |
More details: exif |
Original size: 3504px x 2336px |
Current: 400px x 267px |
in this box: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
