Previous Year Question

• Certain species of ants cultivate fungi inside underground nests for their food.

• The most famous example of this behaviour is provided by leaf-cutter ants found in Central and South America.

• Leaf-cutter ants mainly belong to the genera Atta and Acromyrmex.

• These ants do not directly consume the leaves they cut.

• Worker ants carry pieces of leaves into the nest, chew them into smaller fragments and prepare a nutrient substrate for the fungus.

• The fungus cultivated on this substrate is mainly Leucoagaricus gongylophorus.

• The cultivated fungus produces specialised nutritious structures that are consumed by the ants and their larvae.

• Worker ants help maintain the temperature, humidity and cleanliness of the fungal garden.

• They remove unwanted fungi and contaminants from the garden and isolate infected portions.

• Beneficial bacteria living on the bodies of some fungus-growing ants produce antimicrobial substances that help protect the fungal garden from parasitic microorganisms.

• While establishing a new colony, a new queen may carry a small fungal inoculum from the old nest.

• In this relationship, the ant receives food, while the fungus receives nutrients, protection and a means of dispersal.

• It is an advanced example of obligate mutualism based on mutual benefit.

• Cockroaches, crabs and spiders are not well known for this type of systematic fungus cultivation.

Therefore, the correct answer is ant.