Common name : Soldier ant
Scientific name: Eciton burchellii
Family : Formicidae
Native to : Spread worldwide
Interesting fact : There are over 200 species of soldier ants. They are named such due to their aggressive behaviour of foraging simultaneously at a specific place. These groups are known as raids.
Unlike other ants, army ants create bivouacs which are ‘live’ nests, created by female ants holding onto one another’s legs to create a ball in burrows or tree trunks. Army ants form large raids which can extent to 100 metres in length and 20 metres in width. Their diet includes earthworms and vertebrates and also leaf litter and vegetation based on the species.
