Dorylus helvolus. Driver ants have lost their eyes over the course of evolution. These predatory ants navigate instead using their keen senses of touch and smell. Most Dorylus species are subterranean where eyesight is of limited use. St. Lucia, KZN, South Africa - Alex Wild Photography - Insect Photography

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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Nomamyrmex army ants are among the few animals that successfully attack leafcutter ant nests. The leafcutters are not without their defenses. Here two Atta workers attack and kill a Nomamyrmex esenbeckii scout, preventing the army ants from discovering the leafcutter's trail.

Gamboa, Panama

A soldier of Nomamyrmex esenbeckii, the most heavily armored of the army ants. As these ants are predators of the giant Atta leafcutting ants, they require stout, sturdy appendages to withstand the slicing mandibles of their prey.

Gamboa, Panama

Nomamyrmex esenbeckii workers carrying a massive Pheidole pupa they have taken in a successful raid.

Monte Verde, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Nomamyrmex esenbeckii is a master predator of other ants. Here, a worker carries off a Pheidole soldier she has paralyzed, transporting the prey in typical army ant style- slung under her body.

Monte Verde, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Dorylus helvolus, soldier. This widespread African species is blind and largely subterranean.

St. Lucia, KZN, South Africa

Dorylus helvolus. Driver ants have lost their eyes over the course of evolution. These predatory ants navigate instead using their keen senses of touch and smell. Most Dorylus species are subterranean where eyesight is of limited use.

St. Lucia, KZN, South Africa

Dorylus helvolus is a polymorphic species, having worker ants of varying sizes that specialize on different tasks.

St. Lucia, KZN, South Africa

Dorylus helvolus

St. Lucia, KZN, South Africa

Dorylus helvolus. Driver ants have lost their eyes over the course of evolution. These predatory ants navigate instead using their keen senses of touch and smell. Most Dorylus species are subterranean where eyesight is of limited use.

St. Lucia, KZN, South Africa

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Keywords: trail insects army ants formicidae dorylus dorylus helvolus doryline section dorylinae driver ants blind ants

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Army Ants and Other Nomads

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