neivamyrmex

Army Ants of the North

awild | December 14, 2008

Neivamyrmex nigrescens, Arizona Army ants have a decidedly tropical reputation.  The term conjures spectacular images of swarms sweeping across remote Amazonian villages, devouring chickens, cows, and small children unlucky enough to find themselves in the path of the ants.  Of course, the habits of real army ants are not nearly so sensational, but they are at least as interesting. The approximate range of army ants in North America. Few people are aware that more than a dozen army ant species are found in the United States.  Most belong to the genus Neivamyrmex, a diverse group that…