Army Ants and Other Nomads

Several lineages of ants in the warmer regions of the world have evolved a lifestyle of nomadic predation.

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Eciton burchellii soldier. The bizarre globular eyes of army ants are a result of the ants' having re-evolved functional lenses from the vestiges of a blind ancestor.

Maquipucuna reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador

Eciton burchellii soldier standing guard at the edge of a trail.

Maquipucuna reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador

An Eciton hamatum raiding party has discovered an ant nest in the leaf litter and begin to dig in. This army ant species is a specialized predator on other social insects.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador

Eciton hamatum preys on the brood of other social insects. Here, workers carry captured ant and wasp larvae back to their bivouac.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador

Eciton hamatum soldier. The recurved mandibles are used to defend the colony from vertebrate predators.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador

Eciton hamatum is a specialist on the brood of other social insects. Here, a worker carries a captured ant larva.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador

Eciton hamatum army ants carry captured ant brood back from a successful raid.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador

Eciton rapax has the largest workers of any Eciton species. These handsome insects are specialist predators on the brood of ponerine hunting ants.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador

Eciton burchellii soldier. The bizarre globular eyes of army ants are a result of the ants' having re-evolved functional lenses from the vestiges of a blind ancestor.

Maquipucuna reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador

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Keywords: macro evolution ecitoninae eciton burchelli soldier ant rainforest ant

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Army Ants and Other Nomads

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