Q90·GS Paper 1 · Prelims 2022
Identifying insect species known for cultivating fungi
EnvironmentBiodiversity & ConservationFactual single● HardStatic
Question
Certain species of which one of the following organisms are well known as cultivators of fungi?
Options
aAnswer
Ant
b
Cockroach
c
Crab
d
Spider
Explanation
Leafcutter ants are famous ecological farmers. They cut and transport foliage into their nests not to eat it directly, but to use it as a fertilizer to cultivate specific species of fungi, which then serves as the exclusive food source for the ant colony.
Insect agriculture is an evolutionary marvel; leafcutter ants and certain termites farm fungi precisely the way humans farm crops.
Answer: (a).
Question details
Year
2022
Paper
GS Paper 1
Question
Q90
Subject
Environment
Sub-topic
Biodiversity & Conservation
Type
Factual single
Difficulty
Hard
Nature
Static
Source hint
Formicidae Mutualism / Leafcutter Ant Fungus Cultivation Research
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