Eciton is a New World army ant genus that contains the most familiar species of army ants. The most predominant and well-known species is Eciton burchellii, which is also more commonly known as the army ant and is considered the type species.

A trail of foraging Eciton burchellii. Eciton burchellii raids move as a loose swarm over the leaf litter. This allows for smaller prey to take shelter in the crevices of the leaf litter to hide from the oncoming ants.

Feb 7, 2025 · Eciton comprises the most conspicuous army ants in the New World. The huge colony size combined with epigaeic nesting and foraging habits makes these ants major invertebrate predators and key species of the tropical ecosystems.

Mar 11, 2025 · Eciton burchellii swarms take a broad range of prey types, including other social Hymenoptera (other ants, in particular), Dictyoptera (cockroaches and mantids), spiders, scorpions, and Orthoptera.

Army ants (Eciton) form collective assemblages out of their own bodies to perform a variety of functions that benefit the entire colony. Here we examine ‟bridges” of linked individuals that are constructed to span gaps in the colony’s foraging trail.

Wheeler's laboratory case in Eciton schmitti -- A case of Eciton milling in the open. Probable initiation of the E. praedator mill. Analysis of the persistent circular column.

This study investigates the development of trail following behavior in the neotropical army ant genus Eciton, focusing on the differences in performance between newly eclosed callow workers and mature adult workers during the nomadic phase of colony activity.

Eciton burchelli colonies alternate bouts of central place foraging with periods of migration according to a set rhythm. When these army ants forage from a central nest site they separate neigh- bouring raids by using a pattern similar to that used by many plants in spiral phyllotaxis.

Jan 15, 1973 · Colonies of the neotropical army ants Eciton hamatum (F.) and E. burchelli (Westwood) have worker populations that are polymorphic. Major workers, with their huge heads and long, ice-tong-shaped mandibles, exhibit certain behavior patterns with greater frequency than do the smaller workers.

Dec 24, 2010 · Most of what we know about the moving behaviour of the nomadic army ant Eciton burchellii comes from Barro Colorado Island (BCI) in Panama. Nomadic colonies raid roughly in straight line during the day and relocate their nests along this path in the evening.