Certain species of which one of the following organisms are well known as cultivators of fungi?

UPSC Prelims 2022 Question:

Certain species of which one of the following organisms are well known as cultivators of fungi?

a) Ant

b) Cockroach

c) Crab

d) Spider

Correct Answer: Option a) Ants

Learn more about Ants in the given explanation below.

Explanation:

The attine ants are a group of more than 200 species that use several different agricultural techniques to cultivate mutualistic fungi which they raise in fungus gardens. Unlike the fungi cultivated by lower attines, those grown by the leaf-cutters have lost the ability to grow freely and depend entirely on the ants for their propagation. These fungi also produce nutritious swellings which the ants use as food, similar to the fruits and vegetables we cultivate. In a word, they've been domesticated by the ants.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

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