Biology of the Army Ant
The army ant, unlike most ants, do not build permanent nests. They frequently travel in large lines killing other insects and animals in their path, hence the name "Army Ants." They don't actually have an actual taxonomy; they are different species of ants that have convergently evolved to do the same thing. What that is is the making of temporary nests called bivouacs, which are essentially resting grounds until they move again. These bivouacs can be made in old tree logs or even in the open, but most commonly they are built hanging off of a tree limb. The adult ants lock jaws and mandibles to make a hammock for the queen. After a few weeks, the queen emerges and the march begins anew.
During the march, the soldier ants move along the sides to protect the queen while workers carry immature ants and gather all the food they can find. As they forage, they kill anything living that doesn't get out of the way fast enough. This march usually contains thousands of ants. When birds and others hear them, they scramble to escape the ants' relentless drive. Some species of Army Ants travel in a line while others fan out, and they will climb over and go through any obstacles, including shrubs, trees, and even houses. The transition between movement and stopping seems to correspond to the maturation of young. Soon after the queen lays her eggs, the colony moves. When the larva pupate, though, they stop until they emerge and the queen lays more eggs.
During the march, the soldier ants move along the sides to protect the queen while workers carry immature ants and gather all the food they can find. As they forage, they kill anything living that doesn't get out of the way fast enough. This march usually contains thousands of ants. When birds and others hear them, they scramble to escape the ants' relentless drive. Some species of Army Ants travel in a line while others fan out, and they will climb over and go through any obstacles, including shrubs, trees, and even houses. The transition between movement and stopping seems to correspond to the maturation of young. Soon after the queen lays her eggs, the colony moves. When the larva pupate, though, they stop until they emerge and the queen lays more eggs.