Eciton hamatum soldier. Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador - Alex Wild Photography - Insect Photography - Insect Pictures

Eciton

is a large, conspicuous army ant endemic to the neotropics. Most species have a soldier caste with mandibles modified into ice-tong shaped hooks for defense against vertebrates. One rain forest species, E. burchellii, is known for its expansive epigaeic swarm raids.

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An Eciton hamatum army ant worker is pinned down by fierce little Azteca ants defending their territory.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador

Eciton hamatum soldier.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador

Eciton hamatum workers on the trail.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, 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

An Eciton hamatum army ant raid breaches the territory of an aggressive Azteca colony, and fighting ensues. Eciton will rob the Azteca brood if given the chance.

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

Army ants live such fast paced lives that they must feed regularly. Not all captured prey makes it back to the bivouac; here, Eciton hamatum workers lap up spilled hemolymph from a captured larva.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador

Along the margins of a raid, Eciton hamatum workers create a cache of captured ant brood.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador

Eciton hamatum soldier.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador

Eciton hamatum soldier.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador

Eciton hamatum soldier.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador

Canon EOS 7D |

More details: exif |

Original size: 4938x3342 |

Current: 800x542 |

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Keywords: case ecitoninae formicidae soldier ant social insects major worker

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all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013

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