Atta cephalotes leafcutter ants, minor worker riding a leaf.

Maquipucuna reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador
Atta cephalotes

Jatun Sacha, Napo, Ecuador
Atta cephalotes leafcutter ants, minor worker riding a leaf.

Maquipucuna reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador
Atta cephalotes

Jatun Sacha, Napo, Ecuador
Atta texana workers removing soil from an excavation deep in the nest.

Austin, Texas, USA
A Texas Leafcutter Ant (Atta texana) carrying a leaf back to her nest, where it will be fodder for the fungus that sustains the ants.

Austin, Texas, USA
A large Atta sexdens worker cuts through a leaf while a smaller worker guards against the overzealous photographer. 

Captive colony at the University of Texas
A Texas Leafcutter Ant (Atta texana) carrying a leaf back to her nest, where it will be fodder for the fungus that sustains the ants.

Austin, Texas, USA
Atta texana workers removing soil from an excavation deep in the nest.

Austin, Texas, USA
Atta cephalotes leafcutter ants, minor worker riding a leaf.

Maquipucuna reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador
Atta cephalotes leafcutter ants, minor worker riding a leaf.

Maquipucuna reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador
Atta cephalotes leafcutter ants, minor worker riding a leaf.

Maquipucuna reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013