The word "leafcutter" refers to an animal or insect that cuts and collects pieces of leaves for various purposes such as building nests or feeding. Full definition
Now, a team of roboticists has managed to emulate the cooperation strategy of leafcutter ants with computer simulations of small, four - wheeled robots. (sciencemag.org)
Of the hundred principal crops that make up most of the world's food supply, only 15 percent are pollinated by domestic bees (mostly honey bees, bumble bees and alfalfa leafcutter bees), while at least 80 percent are pollinated by wild bees and other wildlife (as there are an estimated 25 000 bee species, the total number of pollinators probably exceeds 40 000 species). (fao.org)
The researchers also discovered another kind of bee, Megachile rotundata, an alfalfa leafcutter, was using pieces of polyethylene - based plastic bags to construct its brood cells. (sciencedaily.com)