Leafcutter Ants and Their Ecosystem

In a South Texas clearing, a tale unfolds involving leafcutter ants, a fungus, cockroaches, and a parasitic micro-fungus. The queen ant mates, establishes a colony, and cultivates a fungus that sustains the colony. The ants and fungus have a mutualistic relationship, with ants providing leaves for the fungus, which in turn nourishes the ants. Cockroaches live in the colony, feeding on the fungus. The parasitic Escovopsis threatens the colony, but the ants defend against it with various strategies. The colony thrives, and the cycle continues as new queens prepare to establish their own colonies.

Which species is the first to be introduced in the ecosystem?

• The fungus

• The parasitic micro-fungus

• The queen leafcutter ant

• The tiny cockroaches

What does the queen ant do after mating?

• She sheds her wings and digs a tunnel

• She eats the fungus

• She starts a new colony

• She returns to the sky

How do the ants use the leaves they collect?

• They discard them

• They use them to feed the fungus

• They use them to build nests

• They eat them directly

What is the role of the smallest ants in the colony?

• Mating with the queen

• Cleaning leaf fragments

• Feeding the cockroaches

• Guarding the nest

What is unique about the fungus farmed by the ants?

• It can survive without the ants

• It is genetically identical to wild fungus

• It provides essential nutrients to the ants

• It is used to build tunnels

How do the cockroaches survive in the ant colony?

• By attacking the ants

• By hiding in the tunnels

• By mimicking the ants' scent

• By eating the ants

What is Escovopsis?

• A parasitic micro-fungus

• A type of leaf

• A species of ant

• A type of cockroach

How do the ants defend against Escovopsis?

• By using chemical sprays

• By partnering with microorganisms

• By abandoning the colony

• By eating the fungus

What happens to the colony as it grows?

• It loses its queen

• It stops producing new ants

• It covers several meters of tunnels

• It becomes less efficient

What marks the beginning of a new cycle in the colony?

• The fungus dying

• The queen's death

• The offspring leaving to mate

• The ants' migration