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Army Ants

Eciton burchelli

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Field Notes

Notes:

Frequently seen on the jungles around Tortuguero, and a common sight at Cano Palma Biological Station. During the heavy rains in July of 2012, this bivouac and several smaller ones were made in our kitchen. We had to move the queen after 4 days, to get them to relocate.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (19)
akshaya
you have an unique collections manu, just go ahead !
LaurenZarate
Thanks Manuel. I just can't believe you were brave enough to open that up and fish around for the queen! And find her besides! Wow.
LaurenZarate
Manuel, I totally second Ashley's comment! :)
AshleyT
Manuel, let me just say all of us ladies are quite impressed you did this, mostly because I don't think any of us could bring ourselves to do it! And also quite impressed you waited a few days before doing it, and that you were more concerned with moving them than killing them all. Kudos to you, sir :)
manuelariasarias77
LaurenZarate - I didn't get photos of the queen as my wife had the camera at work when I moved them. I suspect that the ants that were clustered with her used pheromone trails to lead the others back to her - I didn't move them far away. suzmonk - I definitely didn't know what I was doing
Gilma Jeannette Ospino Ferreira-Norman
Thank you so much for answering, we all have so many questions on your gorgeous spotting. I love the way you handled it... it shows how much you cared... : )
LaurenZarate
Truly amazing that this came into your kitchen! What a marvelous and equally scary thing to see. Do you more photos you could add? Did you photograph the queen? How did the mass find her when you moved her?
suzmonk
Very, very interesting ... I'm sure I would have been too intimidated, but you knew just what to do.
manuelariasarias77
Gilma Jeannette Ospino Ferreira-Norman - we didn't take her far, and there were other ants with her as we moved her (mostly attacking!) The entire swarm of ants left immediately, and took her with them.
manuelariasarias77
suzmonk we used long handled tongs to part the mass and went for the center. There was some biting. Ava T-B, we only removed them because we had a 2 year old and had to sweep a path to get to the bathroom. And the smell...and that we hadn't been able to cook for 4 days...
suzmonk
How do you find the queen and relocate her?
Gilma Jeannette Ospino Ferreira-Norman
WOW!! That is incredible!! I wouldn't be able to be so patient.... I get armies of the large black ants come through my property and home but it only last a few hours, once they eat all the insects they leave.... : o
Ava T-B
You are so kind to have let them stay for 4 days before relocating their queen!
Aaron_G
That's an incredible organism when it's all working together.
NeilDazet
This would make Edward O. Wilson smile. :)

Spotted for Missions

Mission
El mini-mundo de Costa Rica
Mission
Insects of Costa Rica
Mission
National Geographic's Great Nature Project
Mission
Life in Costa Rica
Photographed
PublishedNovember 15, 2013

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