What do leafcutter ants eat? Leafcutter ants are omnivores and will eat leaves, flowers, fungi, and even small insects (1). As they are gardeners, they have a mutualistic relationship with fungi; the ants protect the fungi from competitors and parasites and the fungi in turn provide food to the ants (2). Are leaf cutter ants good pets? Though these insects are fascinating to watch and study, I wouldn’t recommend keeping leafcutter ants as pets, especially if you don’t have any experience with handling invertebrates. What makes leaf cutter ants unique?
1) Strange behavior of these insects
Some species of leaf cutter ants use their larvae as a main source of food during summer when food is more abundant. The queen simply places one or two eggs on top of a larva and does not provide any further care for them. When the larva eventually dies, it turns into food for many other members of that colony, including worker ants. This behavior was once thought to be unique among insects until researchers discovered that some social parasitic wasps do something similar, but with living host caterpillars instead of ant larvae. While leaf cutter ants do exhibit strange behavior, they are considered one of nature's great success stories by most people who study them. They have few natural predators aside from humans.
2) Longest Lifespan of Insects
A reason why leafcutter ants are unique creatures is that they have been known to live for approximately 30 years. A leafcutter ant colony can reach populations of around one million workers, but their main industry is focused on gathering food. It's also worth noting that worker females in leafcutter ant colonies tend to be highly aggressive, despite only being half an inch long (usually). But, as mentioned earlier, these ants can live up to 30 years - making them one of the strongest animals on our planet! They are not just small insects with big traits - sometimes these tiny creatures' large personalities get overlooked in favor of what they have to offer us, humans. For example, did you know that leaf cutter ants can be cultivated as pets?
3) Fastest Animals on Earth
When it comes to speed, many people might think of cheetahs or maybe even Usain Bolt. But these animals are nothing compared to leaf cutter ants! Believe it or not, leafcutter ants have been clocked at speeds of over 3 feet per second—that’s almost 12 mph! They can move so quickly that they only use their front legs while sprinting. This is because they don’t need to waste energy moving their back legs; since they’re so close to a moving platform, all they need is a little propulsion from their front legs.
4) Hygienic Behavior
Unlike many other species of ants, leafcutter ants do not have to leave their nest to eat. Instead, these clever little insects eat fungus that grows within the nest—the only catch is that they need to grow their food first. To do so, a colony of leafcutters will follow a very strict diet: they only eat leaves from one type of tree in each region they inhabit.
5) Do Not Attack People Unless Provoked
Despite their large numbers, leaf cutter ants are a peaceful species. They can bite, but usually only if you try to touch or take away one of their brood. If you respect them, they will respect you in return. Just make sure not to disturb them while they’re carrying leaves or disturbing their nests—both of which are considered taboo by leaf cutter ants!
6) Marvelous Formation Flying Skills
One of nature’s most spectacular sights can be seen when you look up at a swarm of leafcutter ants flying in formation. These winged creatures form incredible patterns using their tiny little bodies to make impressive shapes in mid-air. They fly in a methodical manner, which allows them to carry loads many times their weight for miles at a time, helping to spread nutrients throughout an area that is as much as 2.5 acres (1 hectare) long by 1 acre (0.4 hectares) wide! Check out these pictures of flying leaf cutter ants and see for yourself just how amazing these little insects are!
7) Live in Dense Colonies
Leafcutter ants live in huge colonies, with millions of ants living in a single nest. The reason for their large size is that leaf cutter ants need to eat a lot to survive. Since they use grasses as their main source of nutrition, they have to go out in search of fresh greenery every day. To locate food sources, they secrete different pheromones that act as guides for other members of their colony; these are sometimes called trail pheromones. Since each member of a colony has its trail pheromone, no ant ever gets lost.
8) They are Nourished by Fungus Grown in Their Nest
Like humans, leafcutter ants are omnivores. They eat leaves but they also grow their food by tending fungus in their nests. The fungus is an essential part of their diet and they supply it with proteins by feeding them grasshoppers, crickets, or other insects they've caught. In addition to being a good source of protein, fungal growth also produces a gas that provides most of its oxygen. Without it, they can't survive long without human intervention!
9) No Winged Males Found in Colony
Leafcutter ants have several castes in their society: workers, who look after young, cut leaves, care for fungus gardens, collect food and defend; soldiers who defend against invasion from other ants; and reproductives, that are winged males that mate with winged females. There's one caste missing though: male leafcutter ants don't have wings. All adult male leafcutters are completely wingless. Why? Scientists believe it's to protect themselves from getting into fights over mating rights with other males. The queens of ant colonies can only mate once (and they store sperm). With no males around to get hurt in battles over mating rights, there's no need for them to grow wings!
10) Strictly Herbivorous Insects
One unique characteristic of leafcutter ants is that they eat only plants, not insects or other animals. As a result, they have evolved features that allow them to break down cellulose in plant material. For example, their saliva contains extra enzymes needed to digest plant matter, which helps supplement their diet. They also eat chewable leaves so that they do not need extra enzymes to digest food.
