Dorylus molestus

Dorylus molestus
Dorylus molestus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Division: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Genus: Dorylus
Species: D. molestus
Binomial name
Dorylus molestus
Wheeler, 1922

Dorylus molestus is a species of African army ant.

Taxonomy

Other (and older) names: Anomma molestus, Dorylus (Anomma) molestus, Dorylus (Anomma) nigricans molestus, Dorylus molestus (Gerstaecker, 1859), Dorylus nigricans molestus.

Males or drones of all dorylus species are so called "sausage flies" and are among the largest ant morphs. However some Dorylus Molestus queen are the largest known extant ants. The normal body size of the queen is ca 5,2 cm but some exceptions reach 8 cm. The huge size of Molestus queens guarantees that it holds the world record in egg laying. Workers (sterile females in the presence of the only living queen) are 0,3 /1,1 centimeter. There are also huge and specialised soldier morphs (permanent sterile females), which provide protection during migration raids.

Ecology

D molestus is an East African surface swarm raider army ant. The species is important to its ecology; it supports myrmycophile fauna, especially several east African birds that attend its raids and depend for better survival on the ants' presence in their habitats. The predatory habits of this species contribute to a larger (mainly) arthropod biodiversity. They attack all animals that are unable to run away and smaller animals that react too slowly, including other dorylus groups. They also invade nests of other social species, such as termites.

D molestus builds temporary surface bivouac nests, which are regularly attacked by a smaller subterran army ant of the same genus, Dorylus (Typhlopone) fulvus badius. A colony engages in foraging raids and also in straight migration raids. Colonies that lose their sole queen sometimes fuse with other colonies or produce (haploid) males before dying out.

It seems that the species is also capable of surviving in environments other than forests, but it is not yet known if they can survive easily without even a small forest nearby.

This ant species inspired early swarm intelligence studies.

External links


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