Which rainforest insect is famous for growing fungus in underground gardens?

The leafcutter ant is famous for growing fungus in underground gardens.

Leafcutter ants cut pieces of leaves and carry them back to their nests, but they do not eat the leaves directly. Instead, they use the plant material as a substrate for cultivating a specialized fungus. The fungus provides the colony’s main food.

This relationship is a striking example of agriculture practiced by animals. The ants weed unwanted molds, protect the fungal garden and use chemical defenses produced by bacteria associated with their bodies. Different castes perform tasks such as cutting, carrying, nest defense and garden maintenance.

Leafcutter ants belong mainly to the genera Atta and Acromyrmex. Their leaf carrying can make them look like miniature farmers, but the leaves are not food for the workers themselves. Termites also grow fungi in some ecosystems, yet they are insects with a very different social system and body form.