Biol Lett April 2022 PMID 35440234

A fungal symbiont converts provisioned cellulose into edible yield for its leafcutter ant farmers.

Benjamin H Conlon, David O'Tuama, Anders Michelsen, Antonin J J Crumière, Jonathan Z Shik

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Mentions

Peak: 8 in Nov 2024

across 3 sources since Apr 2022

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Apr 2022 – Nov 2025

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What people are saying

Discussions are highly positive and showcase deep interest, with examples like praise for the ants' 'freakinâ amazing' abilities and references to detailed videos explaining their complex behaviors. The tone and choice of words reflect both genuine admiration and the recognition of the research's importance in understanding biological symbiosis and ecological success.

AgreementStrong agreement

Most discussions express enthusiasm and support for the significance of the findings, emphasizing how amazing and important ant-fungi relationships are.

InterestHigh interest

Posts demonstrate high curiosity and fascination with the research, with many highlighting the marvels of ant behavior and biology.

EngagementHigh engagement

Comments include detailed observations, sharing of related knowledge, and references to videos and articles, indicating deep engagement.

ImpactHigh impact

Several posts describe the findings as surprisingly profound, with phrases like 'mind-blown' and 'incredible,' suggesting the discovery's high educational and scientific impact.

Abstract in brief

Leafcutter ants uniquely practice herbivory by cultivating fungi that break down plant material, especially cellulose, to produce edible fungal tissues called gongylidia.
Experiments with labeled cellulose demonstrated that the fungal symbiont converts cellulose-derived carbon into these nutritious structures, even without bacterial help, indicating the fungus directly uses cellulose as a food source.
Transcriptomic analysis revealed the fungus has a fully active cellulose-degradation pathway, helping explain the ecological and evolutionary success of leafcutter ants as herbivores.]

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All mentions

Leafcutter Ants and Their Fungal Cultivation of Cellulose-Based Food

Leafcutter ants cultivate fungi to convert plant cellulose into edible structures, supporting their herbivorous lifestyle. Experiments show the fungus directly uses cellulose as a food source, revealing its crucial role…

Real Science · Nov 16, 2024 1,746,039 views

Fungal Symbiont Converts Cellulose Into Edible Structures in Leafcutter Ants

This video explains how a fungal symbiont transforms cellulose into nutritious fungal tissues, supporting leafcutter ants' herbivory by directly utilizing plant material through active cellulose degradation.

BIOLOGIA DE LA Simbiosis · Sep 23, 2022 23 views

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Nov 26, 2025 · 1 like View post →

Stmicheal

@Stmichealsword · X

@gerry6868 @YouTube Simple magic, Ants are strong and figured shit out buddy. https://t.co/BgZXKTuhm1

Nov 26, 2025 · 2 likes · 684 followers View post →

A Wise Man, For he is Real.

@A_WiseManAwaken · X

How Ants Discovered Agriculture https://t.co/qZOQZrJZCk via @YouTube I love #Ants There’s a lot you can learn from an ant Mound.

Oct 14, 2025 · 1 like · 100 followers View post →

VanceRedding

@VanceRedding · X

How Ants Discovered Agriculture https://t.co/hU73gk2SFx via @YouTube

Sep 6, 2025 · 70 followers View post →

Staccato

@staccatotales.bsky.social · Bluesky

Here's a link to the video, if you're curious: youtu.be/uNJYgjnk514

May 14, 2025 · 1 like View post →

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@kostyakazmiruk · X

@flamerones https://t.co/XaFNfcDRqB

May 8, 2025 · 12 likes · 82 followers View post →

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@addingbio · X

Apr 14, 2025 · 255 followers View post →

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@anishdennis · X

This is an owsome video for people who love science https://t.co/ChCe2Pfi8v

Apr 10, 2025 · 1,061 followers View post →

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@teel0ck · X

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Ray

@basalticboi · X

Ants are freakin’ amazing! https://t.co/0XZMfQ31gl

Feb 22, 2025 · 1,194 followers View post →

Kevin

@KevubASelene · X

@jiratickets This may do the trick: https://t.co/FJximRhQWm

Feb 4, 2025 · 1 like · 282 followers View post →

Sidney Izulu

@iamsidneyizulu · X

Watch this to the almost end, before she started talking about evolving from apes My take home is that God is awesome! https://t.co/OrNFdSrYL6

Jan 8, 2025 · 3,095 followers View post →

sedworld.bsky.social

@sedworld.bsky.social · Bluesky

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Dec 25, 2024 View post →

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@SJackson35102 · X

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Dec 25, 2024 · 17 followers View post →

Goji1999

@Awilliams031999 · X

RT @SpawnofAtom: It's incredibly amazing to learn about the world of animals like this. It really just gives one the sense of how grand the…

Dec 17, 2024 · 1 share · 930 followers View post →

SpawnofAtom

@SpawnofAtom · X

Dec 17, 2024 · 4 likes · 1 share · 1,031 followers View post →

Alberto Folres

@TobeDoss · X

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@lillyvont.bsky.social · Bluesky

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Dec 3, 2024 · 3 likes · 1 share View post →

Julius G.C. ⚜

@LeTelecran · X

Saviez-vous que les fourmis font partie des rares êtres vivants sur Terre à maîtriser l'Agriculture ? Elles cultivent des champignons et font de l'élevage de cochenilles... Elles maîtrisent aussi l'art de l'architecture, etc... https://t.co/fde9ghr7K2

Dec 3, 2024 · 2,369 followers View post →

Jacuzzi Frog - In the Soup!

@Typ0negative · X

How Ants Discovered Agriculture https://t.co/1rkd481xR9 via @YouTube "Go to the ant, thou sluggard, and learn his ways"

Nov 27, 2024 · 2,799 followers View post →

frooned

@frooned.bsky.social · Bluesky

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Nov 20, 2024 · 2 likes · 1 share View post →

Blunty

@arkivx · X

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Nov 19, 2024 · 2,943 followers View post →

@kyawgyi86123155

@kyawgyi86123151 · X

The Insane Biology of: Leafcutter Ants https://t.co/WB3hkZ0XoU via @YouTube

Nov 17, 2024 · 1 like · 3,784 followers View post →

dmatthewbailey.bsky.social

@dmatthewbailey.bsky.social · Bluesky

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Nov 16, 2024 View post →

Matthew

@Matthew49200183 · X

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Nov 16, 2024 · 4,893 followers View post →

myrmepropagandist

@futurebird.sauropods.win.ap.brid.gy · Bluesky

Real Science which is a pretty good science youTube channel just posted a new video on leaf cutter ants! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNJYgjnk514

Nov 16, 2024 · 2 likes · 1 share View post →

Earth Soldier Lifestyle

@imagine_garden · X

RT @RSocPublishing: A fungal symbiont converts provisioned cellulose into edible yield for its #leafcutter ant farmers: https://t.co/B5wWxK…

Nov 20, 2022 · 1 share · 6,605 followers View post →

Royal Society Publishing

@RSocPublishing · X

A fungal symbiont converts provisioned cellulose into edible yield for its #leafcutter ant farmers: https://t.co/B5wWxKU8fD #ecology #ants #fungus https://t.co/ARqHSLfNJO

Nov 20, 2022 · 2 likes · 1 share · 38,635 followers View post →

Royal Society Publishing

@RSocPublishing · X

A fungal symbiont converts provisioned cellulose into edible yield for its #leafcutter ant farmers: https://t.co/B5wWxKUG5b #ecology #ants #fungus #BiologyLetters https://t.co/3hpWZsAe5M

Sep 20, 2022 · 3 likes · 1 share · 38,635 followers View post →

Royal Society Publishing

@RSocPublishing · X

A fungal symbiont converts provisioned cellulose into edible yield for its #leafcutter ant farmers: https://t.co/B5wWxKU8fD #ecology #ants #fungus https://t.co/5N0N9otWI7

Jun 10, 2022 · 2 likes · 38,635 followers View post →

Royal Society Publishing

@RSocPublishing · X

A fungal symbiont converts provisioned cellulose into edible yield for its #leafcutter ant farmers: https://t.co/B5wWxKCwR3 #ecology #ants #fungus https://t.co/8tkpBS9Ht8

May 18, 2022 · 38,635 followers View post →

Royal Society Publishing

@RSocPublishing · X

A fungal symbiont converts provisioned cellulose into edible yield for its #leafcutter ant farmers: https://t.co/B5wWxKU8fD #ecology #ants #fungus https://t.co/43SlbW7Wte

Apr 27, 2022 · 3 likes · 38,635 followers View post →

Royal Society Publishing

@RSocPublishing · X

A fungal symbiont converts provisioned cellulose into edible yield for its #leafcutter ant farmers: https://t.co/B5wWxKU8fD #ecology #ants #fungus https://t.co/j2JPt3u1JI

Apr 22, 2022 · 6 likes · 1 share · 38,635 followers View post →

Symbiosis papers

@Symbiosispapers · X

A fungal symbiont converts provisioned cellulose into edible yield for its leafcutter ant farmers https://t.co/ix6t9mv2Ge

Apr 21, 2022 · 1,104 followers View post →

Earth Soldier Lifestyle

@imagine_garden · X

RT @RSocPublishing: #Leafcutter ants harvest fresh leaves and incorporate them into their “fungus garden", which then converts the leaves i…

Apr 20, 2022 · 2 shares · 6,605 followers View post →

Royal Society Publishing

@RSocPublishing · X

#Leafcutter ants harvest fresh leaves and incorporate them into their “fungus garden", which then converts the leaves into food for the ants. #BiologyLetters authors track cellulose through the fungal tissue to show it is used in food: https://t.co/B5wWxKU8fD #ecology #ants https://t.co/PBlFlkC6cP

Apr 20, 2022 · 1 like · 2 shares · 38,635 followers View post →

Ant Evolution Papers

@AntPapers · X

A fungal symbiont converts provisioned cellulose into edible yield for its leafcutter ant farmers https://t.co/wjND59ugvW #ants

Apr 20, 2022 · 1 like · 335 followers View post →

A fungal symbiont converts provisioned cellulose into edible yield for its leafcutter ant farmers.

Mentions per month

Where it's discussed

What people are saying

Abstract in brief

Top posts

All mentions

Leafcutter Ants and Their Fungal Cultivation of Cellulose-Based Food

Fungal Symbiont Converts Cellulose Into Edible Structures in Leafcutter Ants