Eciton burchellii soldier.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador
Eciton burchellii soldier standing guard at the edge of a trail.

Maquipucuna reserve, Pichincha, 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
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 bivouac.

Maquipucuna reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador
Eciton burchellii media workers stream towards the raid front.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador
Eciton burchellii soldier.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador
Eciton burchellii submajor and media workers carve an arthropod carcass into pieces small enough to carry.

Maquipucuna reserve, Pichincha, 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
Eciton burchellii soldier.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador
Eciton burchellii soldier.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador
Eciton burchellii soldier.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013