Scientists find new ghost ant genus and species: Discovery sheds light on origins of agriculture
Monday, December 23, 2013 - 10:50
in Biology & Nature
Attine ants make up a group of more than 240 known ant species that pioneered agriculture well before humans and nearly all other organisms in the history of life. They evolved more than 50 million years ago, growing elaborate fungal gardens as a source of food within nests for their colonies. Scientists at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History discovered a new genus and species of attine ants that reveals key clues in the mystery of ant agriculture evolution. A description of the new species, Cyatta abscondita, was published in the Nov. 15 issue of the journal PLoS ONE.