Leafcutter Ants

Leafcutter Ants (Atta sp. and Acromyrmex sp.) invented agricultural techniques long before early man. These “farmers” learned to grow and maintain a food source in the form of fungus, a kind of mushroom cultivated in underground chambers. The fungus is food for both ants and larvae. Next to humans, Leafcutter ants have the largest and most complex societies on Earth.  A single nest may contain a thousand chambers, up to 18 feet in depth, and support a community of more than a million ants!  The queen is huge in comparison to her workers and about an inch in length. The exact steps it takes to produce the mushroom-like fungus and keep it free from pests and molds are passed on across generations. Leafcutter ants can be seen along pathways in the tropics, carrying bits of leaves back to their nest where they cultivate their fungus. Their amazing agricultural methods are a series of small, precise steps conducted in their underground chambers. Leafcutter ants are from South and Central America, Mexico, and parts of the southern United States. They can be a problem for crops, roads, and farmland with their nest-making activities. Some Leafcutter species are capable of defoliating and entire citrus tree in less than 24 hours! Here in the states, at least there’s one ant you don’t have to worry about! Call today at 1-800-986-1006 for help with an ant infestation. You’re also welcome to complete the form below and a caring Hearts Pest Management representative will contact you shortly.