Army Ant
Facts
Also known as: Legionary Ant, Marabunta
Conservation Status: N/A
Location: Worldwide
Lifespan: 3 to 13 months
Also known as: Legionary Ant, Marabunta
Conservation Status: N/A
Location: Worldwide
Lifespan: 3 to 13 months
Scientific Classification
Family: Formicidae
Genus: Eciton
Species: Eciton Burchelli
Family: Formicidae
Genus: Eciton
Species: Eciton Burchelli
Description
Length: 3 to 12 mm (0.12 to 0.47 in)
Other: They have long, pointed, falcate (hook-shaped) mandibles. Their long legs on an elongated body make them appear almost spider-like. On their feet are tarsal hooks, which they use to grip each other as they form bridges and bivouacs. They range from a deep golden colour to a dull brown. Workers have single faceted, compound eyes, double segmented waists, and a well-developed sting.
Length: 3 to 12 mm (0.12 to 0.47 in)
Other: They have long, pointed, falcate (hook-shaped) mandibles. Their long legs on an elongated body make them appear almost spider-like. On their feet are tarsal hooks, which they use to grip each other as they form bridges and bivouacs. They range from a deep golden colour to a dull brown. Workers have single faceted, compound eyes, double segmented waists, and a well-developed sting.
Behaviour
Army ants can consume up to 100,000 prey animals each day and thus can have a significant influence on the population, diversity, and behavior of their prey. The prey selection differs with the species. Underground species prey primarily on ground-dwelling arthropods and their larvae, earthworms, and occasionally also the young of vertebrates, turtle eggs, or oily seeds. The stationary phase, which lasts approximately two to three weeks, begins when the larvae pupate. From this point on, the prey that were previously fed to the larvae are now fed exclusively to the queen. The abdomen (gaster) of the queen swells significantly, and she lays her eggs. At the end of the stationary phase, the pupae emerge from their cocoons (eclosion). After this, the ants resume the nomadic phase.
Army ants can consume up to 100,000 prey animals each day and thus can have a significant influence on the population, diversity, and behavior of their prey. The prey selection differs with the species. Underground species prey primarily on ground-dwelling arthropods and their larvae, earthworms, and occasionally also the young of vertebrates, turtle eggs, or oily seeds. The stationary phase, which lasts approximately two to three weeks, begins when the larvae pupate. From this point on, the prey that were previously fed to the larvae are now fed exclusively to the queen. The abdomen (gaster) of the queen swells significantly, and she lays her eggs. At the end of the stationary phase, the pupae emerge from their cocoons (eclosion). After this, the ants resume the nomadic phase.
Predators or Prey?
During their hunt they are accompanied by various birds, such as antbirds, thrushes, and wrens, which devour the insects that are flushed out by the ants.
During their hunt they are accompanied by various birds, such as antbirds, thrushes, and wrens, which devour the insects that are flushed out by the ants.
Diet
Army ants can consume up to 100,000 prey animals each day and thus can have a significant influence on the population, diversity, and behavior of their prey. The prey selection differs with the species. Underground species prey primarily on ground-dwelling arthropods and their larvae, earthworms, and occasionally also the young of vertebrates, turtle eggs, or oily seeds.
Army ants can consume up to 100,000 prey animals each day and thus can have a significant influence on the population, diversity, and behavior of their prey. The prey selection differs with the species. Underground species prey primarily on ground-dwelling arthropods and their larvae, earthworms, and occasionally also the young of vertebrates, turtle eggs, or oily seeds.
Habitat
Army ants do not build a nest like most other ants. Instead, they build a living nest with their bodies, known as a bivouac. Bivouacs tend to be found in tree trunks or in burrows that are dug by the ants. The members of the bivouac hold onto each other's legs and so build a sort of ball, which may look unstructured to a layman's eyes but is actually a well-organized structure. The older female workers are located on the exterior; in the interior are the younger female workers. At the smallest disturbance, soldiers gather on the top surface of the bivouac, ready to defend the nest with powerful pincers and (in the case of the Aenictinae and Ecitoninae) stingers. The interior of the nest is filled with numerous passages and contains many chambers with food, the queen, the larvae, and the eggs.
Army ants do not build a nest like most other ants. Instead, they build a living nest with their bodies, known as a bivouac. Bivouacs tend to be found in tree trunks or in burrows that are dug by the ants. The members of the bivouac hold onto each other's legs and so build a sort of ball, which may look unstructured to a layman's eyes but is actually a well-organized structure. The older female workers are located on the exterior; in the interior are the younger female workers. At the smallest disturbance, soldiers gather on the top surface of the bivouac, ready to defend the nest with powerful pincers and (in the case of the Aenictinae and Ecitoninae) stingers. The interior of the nest is filled with numerous passages and contains many chambers with food, the queen, the larvae, and the eggs.
Conservation
There is no conservation status for the Army Ants. This means that no-one knows the population of the Army Ant.
There is no conservation status for the Army Ants. This means that no-one knows the population of the Army Ant.
Reproduction
The life of an ant starts with an egg. If the egg is fertilized, the ant will be female; if not, it will be male. Ants are holometabolous (a specific kind of insect development which includes four life stages) and develop by complete metamorphosis, passing through larval and pupal stages before they become adults. The larval stage is particularly helpless – for instance it lacks legs entirely – and cannot care for itself. The difference between queens and workers (which are both female), and between different castes of workers when they exist, is determined by feeding in the larval stage. Food is given to the larvae by a process called 'trophallaxis' in which an ant regurgitates food previously held in its crop for communal storage. This is also how adults distribute food amongst themselves. Larvae and pupae need to be kept at fairly constant temperatures to ensure proper development, and so are often moved around various brood chambers within the colony. A new worker spends the first few days of its adult life caring for the queen and young. After that it graduates to digging and other nest work, and then to foraging and defense of the nest. These changes are fairly abrupt and define what are called temporal castes.
The life of an ant starts with an egg. If the egg is fertilized, the ant will be female; if not, it will be male. Ants are holometabolous (a specific kind of insect development which includes four life stages) and develop by complete metamorphosis, passing through larval and pupal stages before they become adults. The larval stage is particularly helpless – for instance it lacks legs entirely – and cannot care for itself. The difference between queens and workers (which are both female), and between different castes of workers when they exist, is determined by feeding in the larval stage. Food is given to the larvae by a process called 'trophallaxis' in which an ant regurgitates food previously held in its crop for communal storage. This is also how adults distribute food amongst themselves. Larvae and pupae need to be kept at fairly constant temperatures to ensure proper development, and so are often moved around various brood chambers within the colony. A new worker spends the first few days of its adult life caring for the queen and young. After that it graduates to digging and other nest work, and then to foraging and defense of the nest. These changes are fairly abrupt and define what are called temporal castes.
