News Ecosystems

Nomadic ants hunt mushrooms

Newly discovered ant lifestyle is one of roaming and picking

By Susan Milius

- More than 2 years ago

No anthills. Just a place to stay for a while, and then it’s off wherever the next mushroom leads.

BRINGING HOME THE MUSHROOM The first ant species described as specialized for mushroom hunting takes home their (relatively) huge find crumb by crumb. The Malaysian rainforest species Euprenolepis procera can haul away three-quarters of a mushroom within four hours.