Burchell's Army Ant Eciton burchellii

Photo of Burchell's Army Ant (Eciton burchellii)

(c) Zac Peterson, some rights reserved (CC BY)

OrderAnts, Bees, Wasps, and Sawflies (Hymenoptera)
FamilyAnts (Formicidae)
GenusEciton Army Ants (Eciton)

Army ants: the ultimate raiders. Massive coordinated swarms of millions march across the rainforest floor raiding everything in their path. This New World species displays extreme worker polymorphismβ€”different castes with dramatically different sizes, each suited for specific roles. They're nomadic, constantly relocating their bivouacs, and formidable predators. Witnessing an Eciton raid is witnessing millions of tiny hunters acting as a single superorganism.

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