How big is an army ant soldier?
The workers of these colonies are the smallest, with a body length of approximately 3 mm. The heartier soldiers can be 9 to 14 mm long. The queen is enormous at several centimeters in length.
What is the largest army ant?
The largest genus is Neivamyrmex, which contains more than 120 species; the most predominant species is Eciton burchellii; its common name “army ant” is considered to be the archetype of the species.
The genus Neivamyrmex is the largest of all army ant genera, containing some 120 species, all in the United States. The predominant species of Eciton is Eciton burchellii, whose common name is “army ant” and which is considered to be the archetypal species.
How long does an army ant colony last?
The queen of a colony of Army ants has a very long lifespan while the males and workers survive less than one year. Army ants are almost completely dependent on one another, travel obsessively in swarms, and may enter your house if a decent food supply is present.
What kind of ant is an army ant?
The Army ant is gold to dark brown in color and depending on the rank of the soldier can be anywhere from 3 to 12 mm in length. Like a good soldier would, the Army ant uses its specialized armor to protect its colony: workers will attach themselves to each other using the hooks on their hands and feet, forming a shield of ants.
What’s the average life span of an ant?
Different Species Have Different Lifespans Another important factor affecting longevity of ants is species. For comparison, odorous house ant workers, a commonly seen ant inside homes, tend to live about two to three years, while a fire ant worker lives only about five weeks.
What do soldier ants do for a living?
In harvester ant species, the soldiers use their strength to crack open hard seeds. In leaf cutter ant species, the soldiers cut through the thicker plants so that the minor workers can carry the clippings back to their nest.
What’s the average size of an army ant?
• Army Ant Size The workers are small, only about 3 mm (0.1 in) long. The heartier soldiers, however, can be between 9 and 14 mm (0.35 – 0.55 in) in length.
What makes a Soldier Ant a big head?
Soldier ants are also known as ‘major workers’ or ‘big heads’. They are only present among certain ant species that are ‘polymorphic’. These sterile female ants are larger and stronger than typical workers. They protect their colony from large predators and use their strength and large jaws or mandibles to cut and carry larger objects.
How long do ants live in a colony?
Probably one of the most important factors affecting lifespan is the respective ant’s caste; the queens, males, and workers that occupy the ant colony. Male Ants – Male adults live for only a few days and die after mating with the females.
In harvester ant species, the soldiers use their strength to crack open hard seeds. In leaf cutter ant species, the soldiers cut through the thicker plants so that the minor workers can carry the clippings back to their nest.
