Atta insularis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Atta insularis |
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The Atta insularis is a special kind of leafcutter ant. It lives only in Cuba and is part of the Atta genus. These ants are known for growing their own food! They belong to a group called fungus-growing ants.
This ant is the biggest and most famous ant species in Cuba. Atta insularis ants are unique because they show great polymorphism. This means the ants in a colony look very different from each other. Their bodies are shaped for different jobs. For example, the "warrior" ants have really big heads!
These ants usually like to work at night. But they can also work during the day, especially if it's cloudy.
Their nests are huge! They can have one or many mounds spread out over several meters. Some mounds can even be taller than a person, reaching over a meter high. These nests can last a very long time in nature, sometimes more than 50 years!
Unfortunately, Atta insularis can be a pest for farmers. They can damage important crops like citrus fruits, coffee plants, and different types of pine trees.
Scientists have studied how Atta insularis ants behave. They do these studies both in labs and in their natural homes to learn more about them.
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See also
In Spanish: Bibijagua para niños
- List of leafcutter ants
- Symmetry breaking of escaping ants
