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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Bees, Ants, and other Stinging Wasps » Vespoidea » Ants (Formicidae) » Army Ants (Ecitoninae) » Legionary ants (Neivamyrmex)
Photo#37432
ants - Neivamyrmex
Copyright © 2005 Machele White

ants - Neivamyrmex
Lady Lake, Lake County, Florida, USA
November 14, 2005
Sorry about image quality, but it might help with ID. I found these ants in my grass, they were gathering on the tops of the blades, Females? were flying in, five, just in the time I was sitting there, I had to catch one to get a pic since they were dropping straight down under the grass.
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Contributed by Machele White on 16 November, 2005 - 11:05am

Legionary ants.
These are "legionary ants," the temperate equivalent of neotropical army ants. Genus is Neivamyrmex, at least I'm pretty sure. Maybe Alex Wild will visit and confirm or deny.
… Eric R. Eaton, 16 November, 2005 - 11:52am login or register to post comments

 
Thank you
for the quick response Eric. It was fascinating to watch them, were they releasing pheromones or something to attract the males?
… Machele White, 16 November, 2005 - 12:12pm login or register to post comments

 
They are either Neivamyrmex t
They are either Neivamyrmex texanus or opacithorax. More likely they are attacking a prey item, but it is difficult to tell in this photograph. Based on the shining head it is N. opacithorax.
… Gordon C. Snelling, 20 June, 2006 - 7:54am login or register to post comments

 
Thank you
for your response. I sat in the grass for quite awhile watching, no prey, they were running from blade to blade, going to the tips in groups, then one of the winged ones would fly in, and head directly under the grass.
… Machele White, 20 June, 2006 - 8:07am login or register to post comments

 
Very interesting observation,
Very interesting observation, no question the males were being attracted however I have never heard of such a strategy being used to attract males. Unfortunately so little is known about this aspect of army ant life it could very well be that this behavior is exactly what was going on.
… Gordon C. Snelling, 20 June, 2006 - 8:22am login or register to post comments

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