Driver ants

Additional photo: first trail I captured >> https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=616663288387053&set=pcb.616663871720328&type=1&theater Happy 2014!!!

Thank you! Wishing us all a Happy New Year, full of new adventures and greater findings : )

Oh I'll take a look. This is as close as it gets >> https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=615047081882007&set=a.540710832648966.1073741825.100001301623602&type=1&theater Soldiers are poised to grab anything that gets so close with those pincers of theirs. There is a high risk of getting bitten. And as you know, I'm not paid for such manner of risk : ) As for the use of ants heads for suturing wounds, there is a classical example in Mel Gibson's Apocalypto. Ingenious!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driver_ants

@Lauren. I think that it is more likely that the first ants had blazed the trail, removing obstacles (like small movable gravels), making for an easy transit for the workers, and the rest which are not as strong as the big-headed soldiers. But I'll look closely at subsequent trails I may encounter in future to confirm this. As said earlier, this is a wild and regularly occurring scene in this part. @EnvUnlimited. Thanks for the insight. Must see Hellstrom Chronicle any time soon. Another movie that portrays an extreme case of these highly social critters is Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Interestingly, the hyperlink 'giant ants' in the movie synopsis on Wikipedia leads to the page for driver ants (saifu), which I think has the nearest or best description for the images above.

Thank you!!!

This is something you might take for granted if you lived in this part of the world- sub-Saharan Africa/tropics. It is a common sight in unspoiled areas, areas with some or all of natural vegetation still intact. Such black ants are often encountered when they run across pedestrian paths to and from the bushes (as in the photo), or on rare occasions when the cavalry makes the front of a building a convenient alternative route. If you by any chance break the file, make sure you don't hang around their search radius or it' your funeral. The soldiers react quickly and aggressively to any interference of any sort. They are skilled at locating the vulnerable parts of the body, that is getting past your shoe or clothing down to your skin if you're a human scape goat. And the case is made even worse when you're not aware of their entrance. They are formidable; they can die biting. Memories of how you danced to their tune would live with you forever :o) Trust me! I'm the one telling the tale today. Beware, you might be next. Compliments of the Season!!!