Insects That Practice Farming

Leafcutter Ants

These ants cut leaves and use them to grow a fungus, which is their primary food source—like running underground farms.

Fungus-Farming Termites

Some termites build large mounds and grow fungus inside them, using digested plant material as compost.

Ambrosia Beetles

They carry fungal spores and bore into wood, where they cultivate and feed on the growing fungus.

Ants That Herd Aphids

Certain ant species protect aphids in exchange for their sweet honeydew, much like dairy farmers.

Mealybug Farmers

Some ants care for mealybugs, moving them between plants and feeding on their sugary secretions.

Gall Midges

These tiny insects inject chemicals into plants to grow galls, which serve as both shelter and food.

Fungus-Growing Wasps

Some wasps infect trees with a fungus, and their larvae feed on both the plant and the fungal tissue.