Fun Facts!
-Although Eciton burchellii are mainly
ground-dwelling species, their bivouacs (temporary home) can be
in trees several meters off the ground (Animal
diversity 2012). (See
Habitat and Geography for more!)
-Eciton burchellii was the original name for
publication of this species of Army Ant, but in the late 1800’s
the double i was regarded as unnecessary by taxonomists.
Recently, newer taxonomic rules have went back to the original
name and now it is the common name when speaking of army ants
(Encyclopedia of Life 2013).
-Over 300 confirmed species, mostly birds and insects, have been
reported to associate with Army Ants and also depend on them for
their existence (Encyclopedia
of life 2013). (See
Interactions for more!)
-When a colony of E. burchellii reaches maximum size,
it can result in the split of the colony. What will happen is
that the old queen will continue leading the main colony and her
daughters will start heading new colonies (Encyclopedia of Life
2013).
-Another way that Army Ants communicate are with touch and
vibrations. They do not communicate visually because they are
almost completely blind!
-Eciton burchellii communicate through chemical
signals, touch, and vibrations because they are almost
completely blind. (See
Forms and Functions for more)
-It takes a colony of Eciton burchellii only an average
of six to eight hours to move an entire bivouac and is done
normally at night (Califano and Chaves-Campos 2011).
-Eciton burchellii is a member of the genus Eciton,
which has twelve known species in its taxonomic group. (See
Classification
for more!)
-In the Eciton burchellii reproduction life cycle, the
wingless queen will lay around 100,000 eggs in the twenty days
allowed to make the next generation. (See
Reproduction for
more!)
Go on to References