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Leafcutter ants, a non-generic name, are any of 47 species〔.〕 of leaf-chewing ants belonging to the two genera ''Atta'' and ''Acromyrmex''. These species of tropical, fungus-growing ants are all endemic to South and Central America, Mexico, and parts of the southern United States. 〔.〕 Leafcutter ants "cut and process fresh vegetation (leaves, flowers, and grasses) to serve as the nutritional substrate for their fungal cultivars." ''Acromyrmex'' and ''Atta'' ants have much in common anatomically; however, the two can be identified by their external differences. ''Atta'' ants have three pairs of spines and a smooth exoskeleton on the upper surface of the thorax, while ''Acromyrmex'' ants have four pairs and a rough exoskeleton.〔.〕 Next to humans, leafcutter ants form the largest and most complex animal societies on Earth. In a few years, the central mound of their underground nests can grow to more than across, with smaller, radiating mounds extending out to a radius of , taking up and containing eight million individuals.〔 ==The lifecycle of a leafcutter ant colony == 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「leafcutter ant」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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