About Acromyrmex octospinosus (Reich, 1793)
Acromyrmex octospinosus (Reich, 1793) is a species of New World ant belonging to the subfamily Myrmicinae, in the genus Acromyrmex. In the wild, it occurs naturally across Central America, from southern Mexico down to Panama, and across northern South America in Venezuela. Foundresses of this leaf-cutting ant species forage for leaves to use as garden substrate during semi-claustral colony foundation. The fungal pellet and substrate are typically attached to rootlets, which act as a platform for the fungal garden. This arrangement keeps the garden suspended away from the earthen chamber of the underground nest during early colony growth, and minimizes contact between the garden and contaminants. A. octospinosus foundresses produce between 3 and 7 workers 2.7 months after nest founding, and workers do not yet forage for substrate at this stage. Incipient nests die or are abandoned at a monthly rate of approximately 50%. These ants routinely clean their legs before manipulating garden substrate. Foundresses rub the surface of the metapleural gland with their fore-legs, then perform typical grooming to pass their forelegs through their mouthparts, before licking the garden substrate. Similarly, ants appear to use their mouths to transfer fecal droplets to their legs. These grooming behaviors are prophylactic, and may help foundresses maintain a hygienic fungal garden.
