Driver Ants

Dorylus sp.

Today we're going to learn about a genus of Ant called Dorylus. Their are sometimes referred to as  "Driver Ants" or "Safari Ants." There are 63 different species within this genus, and they can be found mostly in Africa, with a few ranges extending into southern Asia. Driver Ants are known for their ground scavenging raids, where large numbers of ants will find, take, and steal food.

Driver Ants are also interesting because of the seasonal migrations that they make in search of food. When supplies run short, the colonies (which can number in the tens of millions) form a massive marching column that slowly moves to a new supply. These columns are very defensive, and will attack anything that gets in their way-- including humans! The soldiers have very strong jaws that can leave significant puncture wounds. Large numbers of ants can even kill and consume much larger creatures than them, like Rats.

Queens within this genus are some of the largest ants in the world. D. molestus, an East African species, has queens that can grow nearly 3in long! As with most ants, the drones are all sterile females. Males (sometimes called "Sausage Flies for their huge abdomens) actually leave the colony soon after hatching, but will be drawn back to the smell of them once they are mature. When the Drones find a male, they rip off his wings and bring him to the queen for mating. He dies shortly afterward.

---

IUCN Status : Not Listed
Location : Africa, Asia
Size :  Worker size from 3-11mm

Classification : Phylum : Arthropoda -- Class : Insecta -- Order : Hymenoptera
Family : Formicidae -- Genus : Dorylus

Read More

Fire Ant

Fire Ants

The name "Fire Ant" applies to nearly 300 different worldwide species of Ant all found within the genus Solenopsis. They are named for their coppery-red color, and possibly for the itchy, awful irritation that their stings can cause. Fun!

Fire Ants live in large colonies and are comprised of individuals that have one of three different roles. The queen is the only Ant that reproduces. She will lay several thousand eggs in a single day, and is the only ant that will actually live more than a few weeks! Queens can live for several years, while the other females, the workers, only make it a month or so. Drones are the only males in the colony. Their sole purpose is to mate with the female... and then they die after a lifespan of only four days.

Fire Ants use their stings to attack and kill their prey. While they do often eat grasses and leaves, they will also hunt larger insects like Crickets, as well as the occasional larger critter.

If you get stung by a Fire Ant, you will most likely end up getting a painful blister (or two, or two hundred...). People can also be allergic to the venom, and in those cases the reaction can be far more severe. Thankfully, Fire Ant nests tend to be very visible and identifiable, which makes them easier to avoid.

Some species of Fire Ant have now made it into countries that they are not native to, making them invasive. They destroy agricultural crops, as well as cause harm to both humans and livestock.

---

IUCN Status : Not Listed

Location : Worldwide
Size : Length 2-6mm

Classification : Phylum : Arthropoda -- Class : Insecta -- Order : Hymenoptera
Family : Formicidae -- Subfamily : Myrmicinae -- Genus : Solenopsis

Read More