Leaf Cutter Ants

There are 200 species of ants, but the leaf cutters are by far the most notable. They are the only other species that cultivates vegetation for food. They take the leaves to their nest where a variety of smaller and smaller ants chew them up to make the bed for the fungus to feed to their larvae. In addition, they "are THE dominant herbivores in the neotropics" cutting about 15% of the annual leaf production. What does all of this mean? Well, their fun to watch.

These are some ants from the Lancetilla Botanical Garden in Tela. After cutting the leaves, a parade led the ants down the path, through the grass, across the poisonous tree and back to their nest.