Leafcutter Ant
Atta spp.
True Farmers
Leafcutter ants are one of only a few non-human organisms known to practice agriculture. They cultivate a single species of fungus (Leucoagaricus gongylophorus) for food.
The Fungus Partner
The mutual relationship between the ants and the fungus is so specialized that the fungus cannot survive without the ants (which provide the substrate and care), and the ants cannot survive without the fungus (their sole food source).
Massive Underground Cities
A mature Atta colony can construct subterranean nests covering an area up to 600 square meters and reaching a depth of 6 meters, containing millions of individuals.
Field notes
| Range | Neotropics |
|---|---|
| Size | Workers 2 to 16 mm |
| Weight | A large major worker can weigh around 10 mg |
| Colour | Typically dark reddish-brown to rusty brown |
| Diet | Fungus |
| Family | The genus Atta contains about 15 recognized species |
In the book
The Leafcutter Ant is number 38 of the 101 creatures in Glowing Bugs. Its two pages show it from three sides, at its true size, with a map of where it lives. The plate is an artistic interpretation and does not show the true colours of the living animal.
