Leafcutter Ant (Atta)

Atta cephalotes, commonly known as the hairy-headed leafcutter ant, is a species of leafcutter ant in the tribe Attini. A colony can contain up to 5 million members, and each colony has a single queen that can live more than 20 years. The colony comprises different castes, known as "task partitioning", and each caste has a different job to do. This caste system includes minims, medias and majors. Scientific Name: Atta cephalotes Range: Central & South America Size: Highly polymorphic workers — 2–16 mm Status: Native ID Notes: Reddish-brown. Highly polymorphic workers (minors to large soldiers). Carry green leaf fragments overhead in long processions. Behavior / Notes: Cultivate fungus underground from cut leaves — the first agricultural society on Earth, 50 million years before humans. Colonies can have 8 million members.