Eciton predator

Smith, F., 1858, Catalogue of the hymenopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Part VI. Formicidae., London: British Museum : 152

8. Eciton predator . B.M.

Worker. Length 3 1/2 lines.-Ferruginous: the head and thorax very finely, closely and delicately punctured; head very large, as in E. hamata ; mandibles very stout, widened at their apex, their inner margin smooth, blunt at the tip, produced within into a blunt tooth, finely striated longitudinally. Thorax narrowed behind; the metathorax not spined or grooved above. Abdomen small and ovate; the first node of the peduncle longer than the second, which is nearly globose.

Worker minor. Length 2 lines.-This differs from the large worker in the form of its mandibles, they are of a more triangular form, their apex acute, and curved downwards, their inner margin finely denticulated; the antennae are longer, and, as well as the legs, much paler; in other respects they agree.

Hab. Brazil (Ega).

Of the habits of this species Mr. Bates furnishes the following account: " This species of Eciton differs from all the others in its habits; instead of foraging in narrow columns, it hunts in dense masses of myriads of individuals. Nothing in Entomology is more curious than to watch the vast compact body moving rapidly along; where they pass, all the rest of the insect world is m commotion and alarm. They stream along the ground, and climb to the summit of all the lower trees, searching every leaf to its apex; when they come to a mass of decaying vegetable matter, they cover it with a living crowd, penetrate every chink and cranny, then leave it, and rapidly move on. All apterous insects, especially fat spiders and larva; of Blattae, which latter are excessively numerous about the fallen foliage, scamper off before the rapidly moving mass, in quite a ludicrous manner. The smaller larva; of Lepidoptera and Diptera fall an easy prey to them, as well as some of the large obese species of the genus Formica . The phalanx altogether, when passing over a tract of open ground, occupies a space of from six to ten square yards; on examining them closely, they are seen to move not altogether in one uniform direction, but in variously spreading dense columns, now separating a little from the general mass, now reuniting with it. The margins of the phalanx spread out at times like a cloud of skirmishers from the vast army. I have not been able to find their formicarium, and have not the least idea how or where to find it."