Leafcutter ant

This species of leaf-cutter ant lives in the tropical regions of South and Central America. As its name suggests, it cuts small pieces out of plants and is very efficient at it. It collects more plant material than any other animal in its habitat. It is therefore often regarded as a pest by humans. Nevertheless, it plays an important role in the balance of ecosystems.
The leaves that the leafcutter ants collect are not eaten by the ants themselves. Instead, they use the leaves to grow a particular mushroom, which is their actual food. They use their mouthparts to cut the leaves into small pieces and carry them to their burrow. There they create ideal conditions for the fungus to grow on the plant material, which the ants then feed on.
Leafcutter ants live in large colonies consisting of up to 5 million ants. These colonies have a complex caste system with a queen and many workers who take on various tasks. The queen is the only female that lays eggs. The male ants have a short lifespan and their only goal is to reproduce with the queen. The remaining females are divided into the soldiers and the workers. The soldiers defend their colony and have remarkably large mouthparts. The tasks of the workers include cutting and carrying the leaf pieces, tending the mushroom gardens and caring for the queen and larvae.

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