Army ants - Interesting facts

The name "army ants" refers to over 200 ant species characterized by huge numbers of ants foraging simultaneously over a certain area, attacking prey in vast numbers.

Unlike most ant species, army ants do not construct permanent nests. They usually move from one place to another.

Army ants are usually antagonistic to each other, attacking soldiers from rival colonies in border disputes that keep the army ant colonies separate from each other.

The big boss of the army ant colony is the large ant queen who produces the eggs from which all of the colony's ants are born.

Army ants colonies consists of queen, workers, and soldiers.

Army ants queen mates only once in her lifetime.

When army ant queen dies colonies quickly disappear, and while some ants are being attacked by other colonies the other luckier ones (usually the workers) are being accepted in other colonies.

Army ant soldiers are born with very large mandibles which they use to kill, carry large objects, and to use them for digging.

Army ants soldiers attack in extremely large groups, covering their prey completely as they begin to cut the flesh into tiny pieces.

Workers army ants are usually prohibited from reproducing.

Army ant queen can lay up to 120,000 eggs.

Army ants usually have brown color, though some army ants are also black.

Army ants diet usually includes other insects, smaller snakes and small animals such as baby birds.

Army Ants have a lifespan of 3 to 13 months.

Most army ants colonies live in South and Central America.

Army ants can march around 65 feet in an hour.

Among army ant soldiers they are special scouting units that go out looking for food.

Army ants have amazing digestive system which can dissolve almost any living creature, including humans.