An Eciton burchellii soldier brandishes her hooked mandibles. These unwieldy weapons are designed to grab vertebrate predators and deter them from stealing the army ants' own catch.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador
Eciton hamatum is a specialist on the brood of other social insects. Here, a worker carries a captured ant larva.

Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador
Anochetus trap-jaw ant

Danum Valley Field Centre, Sabah Borneo
Myrmoteras iriodum, jaws open. Note the trigger hair facing forward.

Danum Valley Field Centre, Sabah Borneo
Anochetus trap-jaw ant

Danum Valley Field Centre, Sabah Borneo
Anochetus trap-jaw ants.

Danum Valley Field Centre, Sabah Borneo
Anochetus paripungens, worker trap-jaw ant with pupa.

Northern Territory, Australia
Odontomachus chelifer is the largest trap-jaw ant species in South America.

Aragua, Venezuela
Ectatomma tuberculatum tending the extrafloral nectary of an Inga tree.  Many plants provide nectar to ants in exchange for protection from herbivores.

Gamboa, Panama
Anochetus trap-jaw ants.

Danum Valley Field Centre, Sabah Borneo
Anochetus trap-jaw ants.

Danum Valley Field Centre, Sabah Borneo
Anochetus trap-jaw ants.

Danum Valley Field Centre, Sabah Borneo
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013