Army-ants
Guides
Dorylinae
Army Ants and Allies
Dorylinae is a diverse ant subfamily comprising approximately 27 genera distributed across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. The subfamily was substantially revised in 2014 when Brady et al. synonymized five previously recognized dorylomorph subfamilies (Aenictinae, Aenictogitoninae, Cerapachyinae, Ecitoninae, and Leptanilloidinae) under Dorylinae, and further refined by Borowiec (2016) who resurrected numerous genera. The group includes the classic 'army ants' exhibiting the 'army ant adaptive syndrome'—characterized by group foraging, nomadism, and specialized queens—though not all members display these traits. Molecular evidence suggests Dorylinae genera originated between 102 and 74 million years ago, followed by rapid adaptive radiation.
Ecitonini
army ants
Ecitonini is a tribe of army ants within the subfamily Dorylinae, comprising highly social, nomadic predators of tropical forests. Colonies contain hundreds of thousands to over a million workers that conduct coordinated raids to capture arthropod prey. The tribe exhibits a distinctive two-phase colony cycle alternating between nomadic and stationary periods. Soldiers possess enlarged, sickle-shaped mandibles specialized for defense and prey handling rather than feeding.
Haeteriinae
Haeteriinae is a subfamily of clown beetles (Histeridae) comprising over 110 genera and 330 described species. Members are obligate myrmecophiles and termitophiles, specialized as social symbionts that infiltrate ant and termite colonies. The subfamily exhibits dramatic behavioral and chemical adaptations for colony integration, including mouth-to-mouth feeding with host workers, grooming behaviors, and chemical mimicry of host scents. A 99-million-year-old fossil from Burmese amber demonstrates that this symbiotic relationship originated in the Cretaceous period, contemporaneous with the earliest-known ants.
Neivamyrmex
Legionary Ants
Neivamyrmex is a genus of New World army ants comprising approximately 129 species. Colonies are nomadic, establishing temporary bivouacs nightly rather than constructing permanent nests. Most species are predominantly subterranean, with occasional surface foraging at night or during overcast conditions. The genus is distinguished from related army ants by workers lacking a subapical tooth on the tarsal claw.