Leafcutters on Parade

A trail of leafcutter ants carrying plant clippings.

These are leafcutters of the genus Acromyrmex, like the individual foraging on a tree in the previous post. Workers of these ants clear obstacles and debris from their foraging trails, making visible highways through grass and undergrowth.  They also seem to prefer open areas such as man-made trails to march along whenever possible.  Sometimes we would share a path with these ants down the length of an entire pasture, only to part ways with no end of the ant line in sight.

Leafcutter foraging trail.