Leaf Cutter Ants

Leaf cutter ants are the most amazing tiny creatures. They cut out perfect half circles from whatever type of leaf they like, then they haul the pieces to their homes. In Costa Rica I saw huge lines of these ants tromping (if an ant can actually tromp) through the rain forest carrying a piece of leaf 50 times its size, up a 100 foot tree. I don't know the final destination.
Today after a long hike, I was taking pictures of a beautifully painted church, and I noticed the ants busily working at my feet. I had never before seen them cutting the circles from the leaves. It was so fascinating to watch them cut out a section, position it just right, tote it to a hole in the ground, and descend.