Leafcutter ant
Atta cephalotes
8 mmRobotnica · female
Body length
Body length
od przodu głowy do końca odwłoka · bez czułkówMeasurement: side
Leafcutter ant — size comparison
The leafcutter ant lives in a fungus-growing colony. Workers cut leaf fragments and carry them underground, where plant material becomes the growing substrate f
Silhouette comparison
Length
od przodu głowy do końca odwłoka · bez czułkówScale for the stated dimensions · each animal is labelled
Measurement comparisonScale in cm
0246810
8 mm
8.56 cm
The scale compares the named dimensions. View direction and measurement points are given for each animal.
Leafcutter ant — size comparison — facts and sources
The leafcutter ant lives in a fungus-growing colony. Workers cut leaf fragments and carry them underground, where plant material becomes the growing substrate for a fungus garden that supplies food to the colony.
Workers of different sizes share tasks such as tending the fungus, transporting leaves and defending the nest. The smallest may ride on carried leaves, helping reduce the threat from parasitic flies. Scent chemicals mark their trails.
The queen lays eggs deep in the nest. An extensive network of chambers and tunnels houses gardens, brood and workers. The visible lines of ants above ground connect the colony to plant-collecting sites.