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alexwild > Atta cephalotes leafcutter ants inside their fungus garden. These ants are exclusively fungivores, cultivating a specialized fungus in extensive underground galleries.
alexwild > What becomes of the leaves taken underground into the ants' nest? The leaves are cut into small pieces and fed to a specialized fungus that grows only within leafcutter nests. The fungus can be seen here as fluffy white mycelia growing across the green leaf matter. Atta cephalotes. Central America.
alexwild > The spongy white fungus of the leafcutter ants grows into extensive galleries that form an edible living space. Atta colombica
alexwild > Mating flights are a perilous time for ants. Here a newly-mated Acromyrmex queen falls prey to a pair of hungry harvester ants. Acromyrmex versicolor and Aphaenogaster cockerelli. Tucson, Arizona.
alexwild > 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.
alexwild > A queen leafcutter starts a new colony and a new fungus garden. Acromyrmex versicolor. Tucson, Arizona, USA.
Atta cephalotes leafcutter ants inside their fungus garden. These ants are exclusively fungivores, cultivating a specialized fungus in extensive underground galleries.
alexwild > Atta cephalotes leafcutter ants inside their fungus garden. These ants are exclusively fungivores, cultivating a specialized fungus in extensive underground galleries.
Atta cephalotes leafcutter ants inside their fungus garden. These ants are exclusively fungivores, cultivating a specialized fungus in extensive underground galleries.
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all images and text © Alex Wild 2008

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