An Eciton hamatum army ant worker is pinned down by fierce little Azteca ants defending their territory. 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 soldier stands guard at the edge of a trail.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador

Eciton hamatum workers carry captured prey. This species preys on the brood of other social insects, especially bees, wasps, and ants.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador

Eciton hamatum

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador

Eciton hamatum

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador

Eciton hamatum workers return from a successful raid bearing captured ant brood.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador

An Eciton hamatum soldier uses her ice-tong mandibles to latch on to the photographer's skin. This gives her the leverage to use her stinger (at the read end of the animal) and makes her very difficult to remove.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador

Eciton hamatum workers cross a living bridge made of ant bodies along a trail to the raid front.

Armenia, Belize

Guard ants from an Azteca colony defend their nest from an army ant raid by pinning down one of the invaders (Eciton hamatum).

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador

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

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador

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

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador

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

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador

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

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador

Canon EOS 7D |

More details: exif |

Original size: 5184x3456 |

Current: 800x534 |

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Keywords: ecitoninae army ants ants fighting dolichoderinae biting ants

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all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013

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