Types of Ants
Army Ants | |
| | | |
There are over 200 known species of army ant, divided into New World and Old World types. All are members of the true ant family Formicidae.
New World army ants belong to the subfamily Ecitoninae. This subfamily is further broken into two groups, Cheliomyrmex and the Ecitonini. The Ecitonini group contains three genera, Neivamyrmex, Nomamyrmex, Labidus, and Eciton, the genus after which the group is named (Brady, 2003, Tree of Life). The most predominant species of Eciton is Eciton burchelli, whose common name is army ant and which is considered to be the archetypal species.
The Old World army ants are divided between the two subfamilies Aenictinae and Dorylinae.
The subfamily Aenictinae is made up of a single genus, Aenictus, that contains over 100 species of army ant.
The subfamily Dorylinae contains the aggressive driver ants. There are over 60 species known.
Army ant taxonomy remains ever-changing, and genetic analysis will continue to provide more information about the relatedness of the various species.
Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants 1/4 inch (6.4mm) for a worker up to 3/4 inch (19.1mm) for a queen. Nesting in damp locations, carpenter ants prefer to excavate wood that has been damaged by water. From their nests in the beams, floors or walls, they scavenge the house for food crumbs and insects. Carpenter ants may occur in several colors, although the most important species are black. One of the largest members of the ant family, carpenter ants take their name from their habit of chewing passageways (called "galleries") inside wood. They live in these galleries and make excursions, most often at night, to hunt for food and water. These ants often set up satellite colonies inside homes from parent colonies located outside in a tree or landscape timber.
Fire Ants
Belonging to the Solenopsis invicta family fire ants are stinging ants of which there are over 280 species worldwide.
A typical 'fireant colony
| | | |
There are over 200 known species of army ant, divided into New World and Old World types. All are members of the true ant family Formicidae.
New World army ants belong to the subfamily Ecitoninae. This subfamily is further broken into two groups, Cheliomyrmex and the Ecitonini. The Ecitonini group contains three genera, Neivamyrmex, Nomamyrmex, Labidus, and Eciton, the genus after which the group is named (Brady, 2003, Tree of Life). The most predominant species of Eciton is Eciton burchelli, whose common name is army ant and which is considered to be the archetypal species.
The Old World army ants are divided between the two subfamilies Aenictinae and Dorylinae.
The subfamily Aenictinae is made up of a single genus, Aenictus, that contains over 100 species of army ant.
The subfamily Dorylinae contains the aggressive driver ants. There are over 60 species known.
Army ant taxonomy remains ever-changing, and genetic analysis will continue to provide more information about the relatedness of the various species.
Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants 1/4 inch (6.4mm) for a worker up to 3/4 inch (19.1mm) for a queen. Nesting in damp locations, carpenter ants prefer to excavate wood that has been damaged by water. From their nests in the beams, floors or walls, they scavenge the house for food crumbs and insects. Carpenter ants may occur in several colors, although the most important species are black. One of the largest members of the ant family, carpenter ants take their name from their habit of chewing passageways (called "galleries") inside wood. They live in these galleries and make excursions, most often at night, to hunt for food and water. These ants often set up satellite colonies inside homes from parent colonies located outside in a tree or landscape timber.
Fire Ants
Belonging to the Solenopsis invicta family fire ants are stinging ants of which there are over 280 species worldwide.
A typical 'fireant colony