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Bachac (Leaf Cutter Ant)
Atta cephalotes
10.7213, -61.5592
Field Notes
Description:
Small ant, with a brick red colour and spines on its thorax and head. They move in large numbers, cutting and carrying anything they find to their nest. There are 3 kinds, the largest consisting of big heads and strong jaws known as the soldiers. The smaller ones who actually do the work called the 'workers' carrying leaves and fruit pieces and then the smallest, who hop rides on the soldiers. They are responsible for drinking the exudate from cut leaves. The queen being the largest of them all, is the size of a small mouse.
Habitat:
They are found in tropical forests and build nests that can be as deep as 6m!
In these nests are chambers of which they grow a special fungus. The fungus is used to break down the food they bring into the nest. The fungus containing the broken down food, is eaten by the ants.
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