Leaf-cutting ant - Leaf-cutting ant

Japanese: ハキリアリ(葉切蟻) - ハキリアリ（英語表記）leaf‐cutting ant

Among the approximately 200 species of fungus-growing ants in 10 genera that are distributed mainly in the tropical and subtropical regions of North and South America, as well as in temperate regions, those in the genera Atta and Acromyrmex are known as leaf-cutting ants (illustration), which cut off plant leaves, carry them back to their nests, and cultivate fungi on them. Dozens of species are known. The Texas leaf-cutting ant Atta texana is distributed in northeastern Mexico, Texas, and Louisiana, and its workers are polymorphic, with a body length of 1.5 to 12 mm, one pair of spines on the back of the head and three pairs on the back of the thorax, and a dark reddish brown color.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

南北アメリカの熱帯，亜熱帯を中心に温帯地方にまで分布する約10属200種の菌栽培アリのうち，ハキリアリ属Attaやヒメハキリアリ属Acromyrmexのように植物の葉を切り取って巣にもち帰り，その上に菌類を培養するものをハキリアリという（イラスト）。数十種類が知られている。テキサスハキリアリAtta texanaはメキシコ北東部，テキサス州，ルイジアナ州に分布し，働きアリは多型で体長1.5～12mm，後頭部に1対，胸部背面に3対の刺状突起があり，全体は暗赤褐色。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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