Next to humans, leafcutter ants form the largest and most complex animal societies on Earth. There are 47 species of leaf-chewing ants. In a few years their underground nests can grow to more than 98 ft., with smaller radiating mounds. A large nest can contain 8 million individuals.
The leafcutter ants have four castes: mimims, minors, mediae and majors. The mediae are the generalized foragers that cut the leaves and bring the leaf fragments back to the nest.
The first photo shows the leafcutter ants going up and down a Sura tree, with those going down carrying pieces of leaves. The second photo shows the ants crossing a trail. The last two photos are of a leafcutter ant nest.
The ants cultivate fungus in their nests, feeding it with freshly cut leaves. The fungus is used to feed the ant larvae and the adult ants feed on the leaf sap.
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