Fungus gardens

Fungus gardens are specialized agricultural systems created by certain insects, like leafcutter ants, to cultivate fungi. These insects collect plant material, such as leaves, and bring it to their nests, where they cultivate fungus on it as a primary food source. The ants tend and protect the fungal garden, which decomposes plant matter and provides nutritious fruiting bodies for the colony. This symbiotic relationship allows both the ants and the fungi to thrive, with the ants gaining a reliable food supply and the fungi benefiting from a controlled environment free from competing microorganisms.