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Leafcutter AntAcromyrmex
Atta
Leafcutter ants are conspicuous insects found in warmer regions of Central and South America. These remarkable ants have evolved an advanced agricultural system. They feed on a specialized fungus that grows only in the underground chambers of the ants' nest. The ants actively cultivate their fungus, feeding it with freshly-cut vegetation and maintaining it free from pests and weeds. Leaf cutter ants comprise 2 genera, Atta and Acromyrmex, and about 50 species. Several species are major agricultural pests, some Atta species are capable of defoliating an entire citrus tree in less than 24 hours. A mature leafcutter colony can contain more than 2 million ants, mostly sterile female workers. They are divided into castes, based mostly on size, that perform different functions involving gathering leaves outside the nest, turning plant material into paste for the fungus to digest, and harvesting the fungus for others to eat. Some are soldiers who defend the nest from intruders.
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