Leaf cutters!
The dream species of many ant keepers. A species frequently featured on TV, for example, in BBC documentaries (David Attenborough). A highly recognizable species, and its most recognizable trait is the habit of walking back to the nest with leaves. To successfully keep leaf-cutting ant colonies, several factors are crucial, particularly the correct temperature and humidity. Adapting the setup to the ant's growth is also essential for success.
A leaf-cutting ant colony takes about 20 months to reach maturity.
Leaf-cutting ant colonies are also polymorphic, meaning they have workers of different sizes (regular workers, medium workers, and majors/soldiers).
Keeping leaf-cutting ant colonies is quite different from other ant species, mainly due to the setup requirements.
Leaf-cutting ant colonies use the leaves to cultivate a fungus, in and around which the colony lives.
Note: when purchasing a leaf cutter colony you will also receive an extensive care sheet.
Difficulty
5 / 5