A Catalogue of Useless Facts

Ant Farmers

Ant Farmers
- biology -

​​Leafcutter ants (genus Atta and genus Acromyrmex) practice the second-most complex system of agriculture on the planet -- surpassed only by humans.

The ants have a symbiotic relationship with certain species of fungus. The colony cultivates, cleans, and shelters an underground fungus "garden". Leaf matter collected from the surrounding jungle serves as fertilizer for the crop, and bacterial secretions from the ants protect the fungus from microbes and infections. The ants can even sense if the garden reacts negatively to a toxic fertilizer or an impending pathogen and will adjust their care regimen accordingly.

In return, the fungus produces clusters of nutrient-rich growths which are then harvested and eaten by the ants, particularly the ant larvae.

#026

Sources ▼

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https://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/03/science/for-leaf-cutter-ants-farm-life-isn-t-...