This little girl is struggling to carry a leaf to her nest. She is struggling and dropped the leaf four times while I watched.
She isn't carrying the leaf to her nest to eat as leaf cutter ants do not eat leaves. She is, however, carrying it underground for the use in growing a fungus. The leaves act as a fertilizer to grow the fungus. Once the fungus has grown, the ants may feast on the fungus.
These worker ants are protected by other castes within the ant colony. One caste will remain on the worker ant and protect it from decapitating flies. Decapitating flies lay their eggs on the neck of the leaf-cutter ant and when the egg hatches the ant is decapitated. Thus, they need protection from this fly and often a smaller ant will fight off the fly.
I recently moved from Tucson, Arizona to Modesto, California.
I finished my Ph.D. in Political Science focusing on American Government and International Relations. I have a...
I must have lived in the wrong part of town, as I had never seen any leaf cutters in my travels. Not to say they weren't there, I had just never seen any. Don't get bit.
Wow! I feel as though I've just sat through a fascinating class with your picture in front of us! Is this part of your field of study? I recall you said you're working on your PhD... I love learning new things, especially when they come from unexpected directions! Thanks!
@weezilou No, this isn't a part of my field. I study Political Science. My sister, however, is an entomologist and so while we were working on our Bachelor's and Master's Degree I learned quite a bit about bugs and she learned a little about politics (or so I think).
I love that you learned from each other (above comment). I hope mine do the same. Right now, they want to be a chef (older one) and a marine biologist (younger one). Though I suspect with my older one's interest in science, she'll probably do something in that field. So, do you have plans to be our first female President?
Oh, the photo! This is a very cool capture. Got caught up in the words, as usual...
@clarissajohal I'm not sure if I'd actually like to run for office at the moment. I think, what I'd like to do, is work in public opinion and political behavior. I'm interested in why people do or don't vote and why they vote the way that they vote. My Master'swas in international relations; however, I enjoy American politics much more.
@kerristephens That would be an very interesting study--the voting issues. My grandmother always drilled into me how important is was for women to vote--hopefully, I will pass that onto my girls. (:
Such a great photo, and I soooo appreciated the lesson that accompanied it. I had no idea these poor little creatures could meet such a horrifying end. Yikes!
I must have lived in the wrong part of town, as I had never seen any leaf cutters in my travels. Not to say they weren't there, I had just never seen any. Don't get bit.
Oh, the photo! This is a very cool capture. Got caught up in the words, as usual...
Thanks for the info, very interesting!