AttiniLes Attini sont une tribu de fourmis (Formicidae) de la sous-famille des Myrmicinae. Des espèces fossiles ont été trouvées dans les genres Acanthognathus, Apterostigma, Cephalotes, Cyphomyrmex, Pheidole, Strumigenys et Trachymyrmex. Les fourmis des genres Atta et Acromyrmex sont des fourmis coupe-feuille qui cultivent des champignons qui produisent des gongylidia, des renflements riches en nutriments dont les fourmis se nourrissent. Cette tribu a de nombreux synonymes.
Ant–fungus mutualismThe ant–fungus mutualism is a symbiosis seen between certain ant and fungal species, in which ants actively cultivate fungus much like humans farm crops as a food source. There is only evidence of two instances in which this form of agriculture evolved in ants resulting in a dependence on fungi for food. These instances were the attine ants and some ants that are part of the Megalomyrmex genus. In some species, the ants and fungi are dependent on each other for survival.
