Taxobox
name = "Eciton burchellii"
image_caption = Soldier with characteristically shaped mandibles.
image_width = 250px
status = LC
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Hymenoptera
familia = Formicidae
subfamilia = Ecitoninae
tribus = Ecitonini
genus = "Eciton"
species = "E. burchellii"
binomial = "Eciton burchellii"
binomial_authority = Westwood, 1842
subdivision_ranks = Subspecies [ITIS|ID=575287|taxon="Eciton burchellii"|year=2007|date=25 April]
subdivision = "Eciton burchellii burchellii" "Eciton burchellii cupiens" "Eciton burchellii foreli" "Eciton burchellii parvispinum" "Eciton burchellii urichi"
"Eciton burchellii" is the predominant species of the genus "Eciton" and a type of New World army ant. Distinct in its expansive, highly organized swarm raids, it is often considered the archetypal species of the term "army ant", which has become its common name, and one of the most heavily investigated of all ant species.
As with most ants, they are polymorphic, meaning that individuals vary in size; a colony contains workers ranging from 3 mm to 12 mm, with each specific "caste" being suited to specialized tasks. As with other species of "Eciton", "E. burchellii" features a highly modified soldier caste bearing long, pointed, characteristically falcate (sickle-shaped) mandibles. Their long legs and elongated body lend a spider-like appearance. Color varies from deep golden to dark brown. Workers possess single faceted compound eyes, double segmented waists, a well developed sting, and specialized tarsal hooks on their feet with which they cling to one another to form bridges and bivouacs.
Colonies may be quite large, accommodating as many as 100,000 to 2,000,000 adult individuals. Each colony consists of a single queen, a brood of developing young, and a majority of adult workers.
The species has been observed using their bodies to block potholes in a path between the nest and prey. The ants will each walk to a hole and measure themselves to see if they are a fit for it and if they are, will lie across the hole to allow other members of the colony to cross at higher speed. If they do not fit, they will continue past the hole and allow another ant to check. Once in place in a hole the ant can stay there for many hours, until it is dark and the traffic flow has diminished greatly, at which point they will return to the nest. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6692853.stm 'Living Plugs' Smooth Ant Journey] - "BBC News", 26 May, 2007. Retrieved 27 May, 2007]
The species is the swarming ant most commonly attended by "ant following" birds such as antbirds and woodcreepers.[Willis, E. & Y. Oniki (1978). "Birds and Army Ants" "Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics" 9: 243-263 [http://www.google.co.nz/url?sa=t&ct=res&cd=2&url=http%3A%2F%2Flinks.jstor.org%2Fsici%3Fsici%3D0066-4162(1978)9%253C243%3ABAAA%253E2.0.CO%3B2-M&ei=2Yz1R8mWEIHEgwPrqs3ZBg&usg=AFQjCNHJl5QDV5cPLR8PbTIOQitio1X87A&sig2=aLaS5B5EnslJBOeKrbPkoQ Abstract] ] Insects and other arthropods attempting to escape from "E. burchellii" are flushed into the attending flocks, and a number of species have evolved to obtain most of their food by following swarms.__NOTOC__]Naming
The species was referred to as "Eciton burchellii" in the original publication. The double "i" was subsequently deemed unnecessary in the later 1800s by taxonomists, and hence the name became "Eciton burchelli". However, taxonomic rules have recently been stricter in adhering to the original form [cite web
last = Longino
first = John T.
title = Formicidae: Eciton parvispinum
publisher = The Evergreen State College
date = 2005-07-16
url = http://www.evergreen.edu/Ants/Genera/eciton/species/parvispinum/parvispinum.html
accessdate = 2007-02-10] ; the name "Eciton burchelli" is now largely regarded as invalid. [Agosti, D., and N. F. Johnson. Editors. 2005. Antbase. World Wide Web electronic publication. antbase.org, version (05/2005). [http://atbi.biosci.ohio-state.edu:8880/hymenoptera/nomenclator.name_entry?text_entry=Eciton+burchelli&Submit=Submit+Query Hymenoptera Name Server - Results for the species Eciton Burchelli Antbase] Accessed February 2007]
References
* cite web
last = Diamond
first = Sara
title = "Eciton burchelli"
publisher = Animal Diversity Web
date = 2005
url = http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Eciton_burchelli.html
accessdate = 2007-01-19
* cite web
last = Myers
first = P.
coauthors = R. Espinosa, C. S. Parr, T. Jones, G. S. Hammond, and T. A. Dewey
title = "Eciton burchelli" (classification)
publisher = Animal Diversity Web
date = 2006
url = http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/classification/path/Eciton_burchelli.html#Eciton%20burchelli
accessdate = 2007-01-30
* cite journal
last = Powell
first = Scott
coauthors = Nigel R. Franks
title = Caste evolution and ecology: a special worker for novel prey
journal = Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
volume = 272
issue = 1577
pages = 2173–2180
publisher = The Royal Society
date = 22 October 2005
url = http://www.journals.royalsoc.ac.uk/media/5g04842jtg5xnn41yd9l/contributions/p/9/1/8/p91853jwj0245735_html/fulltext.html
doi = 10.1098/rspb.2005.3196
format = dead link|date=June 2008 – [http://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?hl=en&lr=&q=author%3A+intitle%3ACaste+evolution+and+ecology%3A+a+special+worker+for+novel+prey&as_publication=Proceedings+of+the+Royal+Society+B%3A+Biological+Sciences&as_ylo=&as_yhi=&btnG=Search Scholar search]
External links
* " [http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0608/feature7/index.html Army Ants: Inside the Ranks] " - National Geographic Magazine
* [http://www2.biologie.uni-halle.de/zool/mol_ecol/ArmyAnts/Army_Ants.htm Army Ants]
=External
"In situ"
* http://www.armyants.org/armyants/genusfigures/eciton/misc/paraguaypics.html
* http://www.myrmecos.net/ants/eciton.html"Anatomy"
* [http://tolweb.org/tree/ToLimages/ecitonsp.348b(series).jpgWorker castes]
* Major worker: [http://www.ants-cachoeira.de/Ants/Eciton/Eciton_burch_JHB037408P01_o_HFV.html frontal view] ; [http://www.ants-cachoeira.de/Ants/Eciton/Eciton_burch_JHB037408P01_o_LAT.html lateral view]
* Minor worker: [http://www.ants-cachoeira.de/Ants/Eciton/Eciton_burch_JHB037408P01_u_HFV.html frontal view] ; [http://www.ants-cachoeira.de/Ants/Eciton/Eciton_burch_JHB037408P01_u_LAT.html lateral view]
