In a remnant of Brazil's once-great Atlantic coastal rainforest, an Acromyrmex disciger leafcutter ant carries a leaf back to her nest. The forest where these ants live has been 95% destroyed by human activities.

Morretes, Paraná, Brazil
In a remnant of Brazil's once-great Atlantic coastal rainforest, an Acromyrmex disciger leafcutter ant carries a leaf back to her nest. The forest where these ants live has been 95% destroyed by human activities.

Morretes, Paraná, Brazil
An Acromyrmex niger leafcutter ant worker makes a characteristically circular cut in a citrus leaf.

Monte Verde, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Portrait of Acromyrmex subterraneus, one of the largest and spiniest species in the genus.

Morretes, Paraná, Brazil
Atta texana leafcutter ant queen in the fungus garden.

Laboratory colony at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
An Acromyrmex niger leafcutter ant worker makes a characteristically circular cut in a citrus leaf.

Monte Verde, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Portrait of Acromyrmex subterraneus, one of the largest and spiniest species in the genus.

Morretes, Paraná, Brazil
In a remnant of Brazil's once-great Atlantic coastal rainforest, an Acromyrmex disciger leafcutter ant carries a leaf back to her nest. The forest where these ants live has been 95% destroyed by human activities.

Morretes, Paraná, Brazil
Acromyrmex balzani, a leafcutter ant, transports cut grass back to her nest.

Paraguay
In a remnant of Brazil's once-great Atlantic coastal rainforest, an Acromyrmex disciger leafcutter ant carries a leaf back to her nest. The forest where these ants live has been 95% destroyed by human activities.

Morretes, Paraná, Brazil
In a remnant of Brazil's once-great Atlantic coastal rainforest, an Acromyrmex disciger leafcutter ant carries a leaf back to her nest. The forest where these ants live has been 95% destroyed by human activities.

Morretes, Paraná, Brazil
In a remnant of Brazil's once-great Atlantic coastal rainforest, an Acromyrmex disciger leafcutter ant carries a leaf back to her nest. The forest where these ants live has been 95% destroyed by human activities.

Morretes, Paraná, Brazil
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013