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.
Trachymyrmex septentrionalis. Trachymyrmex are the closest relatives of the larger leafcutting ants. While they normally use dead vegetative debris to cultivate their fungus, these ants will sometimes use living plant matter.
Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
Trachymyrmex septentrionalis. Trachymyrmex are the closest relatives of the larger leafcutting ants. While they normally use dead vegetative debris to cultivate their fungus, these ants will sometimes use living plant matter.
Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA
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