Leaf Cutter Ants

Think you’re the only urban farmer? Think again!

While called leaf cutter ants, flower buds and petals are also on the menu for these critters. The worker ants remove leaves, buds and petals from many different plants, such as weeds, turf grasses, fruit and nut trees, blackberry bushes, and many ornamental plants. Leaf cutter ants are most active during the day when temperatures are below 80F, but will work at night during the heat of summer. The worker ants take the plant bits back to the colony, where they use them to raise a particular strain of fungus. The fungus is actually the primary source of food for the ants. They are quite efficient farmers!