Creature Feature Encyclopedia: Insecta

Leaf Cutter Ant Atta cephalotes

Leaf-cutter ants are fantastic fungus farmers. First the leaf-cutter ants cut up the leaves with their scissor-like mandibles (or teeth). Next they carry the pieces back to their underground nest and chew them into pulp. After that they wait for the fungus to grow on the leaves and then they eat the fungus. This process can be compared to the way we grow mushrooms. The rainforest probably has more ants than any other kind of animal. One leaf-cutter ant can have over 5 million ants in it!

~A Fly in the Sky © 1996