Leaf-cutting Ants

Atta

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Superfamily: Formicoidea
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Attini
Subtribe: Attina
Genus: Atta

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Atta: /ˈætə/

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Images

Atta (Acromyrmex) aspersa var. santschii by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Atta (Moellerius) versicolor chisosensis by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Atta (Neoatta) sexdens race vollenweideri by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Atta (Trachymyrmex) urichii race marthae by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Summary

Atta, commonly known as leaf-cutting ants, are social insects that exhibit complex behaviors of cutting and transporting leaves to cultivate fungi, which they use as their primary source of food. They play an essential role in their ecosystems and are widely distributed across the Americas, particularly in tropical regions. The genus comprises several species, each contributing significantly to the ecological dynamics in the habitats they occupy.

Habitat

Atta species typically inhabit tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, particularly in forests and plantations where they can find suitable vegetation to cut and transport.

Distribution

Found predominantly in the New World, with notable presence in Mexico and southern Arizona (A. mexicana) as well as Texas and Louisiana (A. texana).

Diet

Leaf-cutting ants primarily feed on plant material, particularly leaf fragments that they cut and use to cultivate fungal gardens, which serve as their primary food source.

Life Cycle

The life cycle of Atta species includes stages from egg to larva, pupa, and adult, with each stage having precise roles within the colony primarily dependent on their caste.

Reproduction

Reproduction occurs via a process termed nuptial flight during which winged males and females mate after leaving the colony; fertilized females establish new colonies.

Ecosystem Role

As leaf-cutters, Atta species play a critical role in their ecosystems by recycling nutrients and promoting plant growth through their behaviors in cutting and decomposing vegetation.

Evolution

Atta species exhibit the remarkable evolutionary trait of mutualism with fungi, specifically domesticating certain fungi as their primary food source, which is a unique adaptation among ants.