Ants of the tribe Attini are
herbivores that
grow fungus gardens on plant-derived substances. This fungus will
serve as the main food source for the ants. Attines of the genus
Atta are known as "leaf cutters" because they gather
green leaves which they chew and then grow their fungus on. The
main fertilizer that they use is fecal fluid which contains amino
acids and many types of enzymes that will help the cultivated
fungus to breakdown the leaf structure at the same time. Ants do
not possess cellulose and cannot breakdown the leaf but the
fungus contains cellulose which can breakdown the leaf proteins.
The ants can gain access to the cellulose by eating the fungus.
The fungus and leaf cutter ants are interdependent on each other.
