Ecitoninae

Soldier Eciton burchelli the type

The Ecitoninae are the only subfamily of army ants of the New World.

System

The subfamily is divided into two tribes and Cheliomyrmecini Ecitonini. The Cheliomyrmecini consist only of the genus Cheliomyrmex. The Ecitonini include the genera Neivamyrmex, Nomamyrmex, Labidus and Eciton, the latter being of the family gave the name. The species of this group are best described Eciton burchelli and Eciton hamatum. The Ecitonini are 150 ant species, their distribution ranges of some of Kansas to Argentina. Neivamyrmex alone comprises 120 species, with some also occur in the warmer regions of the United States.

Occurrence

Ecitoninae species occur in North, Central and South America. The occurring in North America army ants are less frequently observed since (about 5 mm) and their limited forays individuals are very small usually take place at night. Eciton occurs in the tropical rain forests and wet savannas of Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Surinam, British Guiana, French Guiana, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil. In Costa Rica you can Eciton army ants often in Cahuita National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve watch.

Description

Hiking, army or driver ants are in English "army ants" (, army ants ') or "driver ants" (, driver ants '), in Spanish " Marabunta ", " ants and legion arias " (, legionary ants '), " ants and devastadoras " (, destruction ants '), described impressively in Costa Rica " ronchadoras " in Colombia " tambochas " in the classic novel La Voragine (, The vortex ') by José Eustasio Rivera, and in Portuguese " formiga -de- correição " (, running ants ' ) called. Bolton described the subfamily of Ecitoninae by the following common features: the males have clearly defined Präskleriten on the abdomen section IV to VII The eye is reduced to a single ommatidium or missing.

Way of life

Most notable are the species of the genus Eciton, occurring from southern Mexico to the tropical rain forests of South America and are visible through wide hunting formations. The light- shy ants live mainly on the forest floor or in dead trees and break at certain hours of the day (usually in the morning or dusk ) to extensive raids on. In the early morning hours there are scouts and patrols from workers who explore a specific area for food and as soon as prey is made to identify the path with pheromones. As food all creatures are considered, which can be overwhelmed. Their colonies and their kings are moved in the raids, while bivouacs of living ants are often formed. The life cycle of these army ants alternates of stationary phase and hiking.