The concept of the superorganism, first described in 1911 by William Wheeler, describes an organized society where individual members function as parts of a cohesive entity, similar to cells in an organism.

Leafcutter ant colonies epitomize this idea, with each ant performing specialized roles essential to the colony's survival. Like human cells that differentiate based on the same DNA, leafcutter ant larvae develop into specific roles. Soldiers act as the immune system, the queen as the reproductive organ, and the nest, with its complex ventilation system, as the skin and lungs. The brain, however, is the entire colony - like individual neurons whose behavioral repertoire is limited, the interconnection of several million animals into a system based on the division of labor enables achievements that far exceed the capacity of the individual animal.

This organization enabled leafcutter ants to transition from hunter-gatherers to agriculturalists, cultivating fungi to feed on in climate-controlled nests. This evolutionary leap, achieved around 12 million years ago, parallels human agriculture, which began about 10,000 years ago and spurred a shift to a technological and urban existence, leading to a significant population increase. Leafcutter ants remain one of the few organisms to have made this transition too, highlighting striking similarities in the evolution and adaptation of complex systems.


Photography + Research Matthias Leidinger
Styling Sebastian Cabrices

Hair and Makeup Sara Del Re
Casting Irene Manicone
Photography Assistant Nikolas Rode
Styling Assistant Chesus Daras