leafcutter ant
Refers to ants of the genera Atta and Acromyrmex, known for cutting leaves to cultivate fungus.
Leafcutter ants cut leaves, carry them to their nest, and cultivate fungus.
Kanji spelling is rare and mainly found in specialized contexts; the word is usually written in kana.
Compound of 葉 (ha, 'leaf'), 切り (kiri, 'cutting'), and 蟻 (ari, 'ant'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the name directly describes the ant's behavior.