About Atta cephalotes (Linnaeus, 1758)
Atta cephalotes, commonly called the hairy-headed leafcutter ant, is a leafcutter ant species that belongs to the fungus-growing ant tribe Attini. A single colony of this species can hold up to 5 million members, and each colony is founded and led by one queen that can live for over 20 years. Colonies are organized into distinct groups called castes that divide work between individuals, a structure referred to as task partitioning. The three castes that make up this system are minims, medias, and majors. This species is widely distributed across the Neotropical region, ranging from Mexico south to Bolivia. It also has separate, disconnected populations in Amazonas and north-eastern Brazil. On rainforest floors, colonies typically occupy a territory of around 200 square meters. Colonies nest in underground chambers that can reach depths of up to 7 meters. Workers position their nests carefully to allow natural breezes to flush out dangerous accumulations of carbon dioxide, which is produced by the fungus that the ants farm for food.
