Exploring the Rainforest

Commonly seen marching along a forest trail holding aloft cut pieces of leaves and flowers, leaf-cutting or farmer ants (zompopas) cut leaves into shreds, and carry them off to their nests where they then clear the leaves of unwanted fungal spores, chew the plant material, mix it with a combination of saliva and excrement, in order to cultivate a spongy, breadlike fungus (Rhozites gongylophora) on which they dine. This fungus no longer produces sexual spores and has come to rely solely upon the ants for propogation. Ranking among the largest and most complex societies in the world, each colony may have a million members and each member has a role to play. The smallest tend to the eggs and larvae, larger ones forage, and the even larger soldiers defend the nest. Watch them as they meet, stroke antennae, and exchange chemical cues.

There is an Android version and an iTunes version.

St. John Visitors:

Please check out Explore St. John, our new travel app to St. John, which supplies comprehensive information (useful for residents and visitors alike) along with pictures, maps and links to hundreds of videos and relevant websites.

iPhone/iPad/iPodTouch version

Android version

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