Army Ants

Ecitonini

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Superfamily: Formicoidea
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Dorylinae
Tribe: Ecitonini

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Ecitonini: /ɛkɪˈtoʊnɪnaɪ/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Neivamyrmex kiowapache casent0103462 head 1 by April Nobile. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Neivamyrmex kiowapache casent0103462 label 1 by April Nobile. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Neivamyrmex melshaemeri casent0104810 label 1 by April Nobile. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Labidus coecus casent0173511 dorsal 1 by April Nobile. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Summary

Army ants of the tribe Ecitonini are known for their aggressive foraging behavior and unique reproductive strategies, with distinct castes that have evolved specialized adaptations for their lifestyle.

Physical Characteristics

Workers 2‒18 mm; queens, males 9‒30+ mm. Workers similar to Myrmicinae because of 2-segmented waist.

Identification Tips

Males are so different from workers that there are concurrent taxonomies for the two castes; this can complicate identification.

Habitat

Nests are impermanent, found in pre-existing subterranean chambers, stumps, logs, and rock piles.

Distribution

Southern USA, Neotropics, with 2 species extending north to Virginia, Iowa, and northern California.

Diet

Mostly brood of other ants, with varying degrees of prey species specialization.

Life Cycle

Cyclic reproduction and foraging; large, synchronized batches of eggs are laid by queens during a period of low activity. Larvae hatch simultaneously with the new brood of adults, leading to high predation and daily relocation to new nest sites.

Reproduction

A sexual brood of a few wingless virgin queens and males is produced at the end of summer; brood cycle is suspended during winter months.

Conservation Status

Particularly susceptible to habitat fragmentation and local extinctions due to human activity.

Ecosystem Role

They forage along fast-moving trails, primarily harvesting brood from ant nests with minimal damage to adult populations, contributing to the ecosystem as efficient predators.

Evolution

Genera are suggested to have evolved between 102 to 74 million years ago, with rapid adaptive radiation during early history.

Misconceptions

Army ant queens cannot fly for dispersal because they do not have wings; this limits their reproductive strategies compared to other ant species.