Simopelta sp. nr. pergandei. One of the most remarkable examples of evolutionary convergence in ants involves the ponerine genus Simopelta and the true army ants (subfamilies Ecitoninae, Aenictinae, and Dorylinae). Both groups are specialized predators of other ants, and their queens have a similar morphology. Parque Nacional Henri Pittier, Venezuela

A Simopelta queen with attendant workers running in a column. Her abdomen apparently exudes an attractant that keeps the attention of the following ant whose mouthparts are held open above abdominal segment 4. Parque Nacional Henri Pittier, Venezuela