Farming Ants: Leafcutters and Fungus Growers

Hundreds of ant species live as farmers in the warmer regions of North and South America. These insects- a single evolutionary radiation- cultivate an edible fungus fed with bits of vegetative debris, or in the case of the leafcutter ants, with live vegetation.

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Atta cephalotes. Ants carrying leaves are vulnerable to attack by parasitic phorid flies. To help prevent attacks, small guard workers often ride atop the cut vegetation, mandibles open in defensive posture. Intriguingly, hitchhiking is only seen in regions inhabited by the flies. Outside the geographic range of the parasites, leafcutter ants do not show this leaf-riding behavior.

Gamboa, Panama

Atta cephalotes in the fungus garden. Here, the fungus is visible as a white mold growing across the cut leaves that the ants have fed to it.

Captive colony at the California Academy of Sciences

Atta colombica fungus garden.

Captive colony at the University of Texas

Atta cephalotes, close-up of the head of a soldier. The sharp mandibles of this ant can easily slice through skin, so handle these ants with care!

Captive colony at the California Academy of Sciences

Atta texana workers removing soil from an excavation deep in the nest.

Austin, Texas, USA

The busy nest entrance of Atta colombica, a forest-dwelling leafcutter ant.

Gamboa, Panama

The chaco leafcutter ant Atta vollenweideri forms the largest colonies of any social animal on earth. Mature nests such as the mound pictured here may contain several million ants. Note the cleared foraging trail leading away from the nest in the foreground.

Resistencia, Chaco, Argentina

Atta cephalotes. A small worker atop a leaf guards her sister against attacks by parasitic flies. Ants laden with cargo cannot use their mandibles for defense, so they carry hitchhikers to ward off the parasites.

Gamboa, Panama

Atta cephalotes. Ants carrying leaves are vulnerable to attack by parasitic phorid flies. To help prevent attacks, small guard workers often ride atop the cut vegetation, mandibles open in defensive posture. Intriguingly, hitchhiking is only seen in regions inhabited by the flies. Outside the geographic range of the parasites, leafcutter ants do not show this leaf-riding behavior.

Gamboa, Panama

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Farming Ants: Leafcutters and Fungus Growers

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