As a Cerapachys larvatus group raid (large black ants) hits the target Stigmacros nest, chaos and fighting ensue.

Harrietville, Victoria, Australia
As a Cerapachys larvatus group raid (large black ants) hits the target Stigmacros nest, chaos and fighting ensue.

Harrietville, Victoria, Australia
As a Cerapachys larvatus group raid (large black ants) hits the target Stigmacros nest, chaos and fighting ensue.

Harrietville, Victoria, Australia
As a Cerapachys larvatus group raid (large black ants) hits the target Stigmacros nest, chaos and fighting ensue.

Harrietville, Victoria, Australia
Eciton burchellii army ant workers pull a termite from a rotting log.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador
Eciton burchellii workers pull a termite from a rotting log.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador
Eciton burchellii workers pull a termite from a rotting log.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador
Eciton burchellii army ants cluster around a cricket they have caught.  

Captive colony at the California Academy of Sciences
Army ants such as these Eciton are important predators in many tropical ecosystems.  Colonies have worker ants of different sizes that specialize in different tasks.  

Captive colony at the California Academy of Sciences
As a Cerapachys larvatus group raid (large black ants) hits the target Stigmacros nest, chaos and fighting ensue.

Harrietville, Victoria, Australia
As a Cerapachys larvatus group raid (large black ants) hits the target Stigmacros nest, chaos and fighting ensue.

Harrietville, Victoria, Australia
As a Cerapachys larvatus group raid (large black ants) hits the target Stigmacros nest, chaos and fighting ensue.

Harrietville, Victoria, Australia
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013