News- Researchers from Karnataka and Odisha discovered two new army ant species in Andhra Pradesh’s Eastern Ghats, as reported in Asian Myrmecology.
About Army Ant Species
- They are keystone predators that play a critical role in regulating arthropod populations and shaping forest biodiversity by consuming large quantities of invertebrates on a daily basis.
- Scientific name: The scientific names of the newly discovered army ant species are Aenictus chittoorensis and Aenictus lankamallensis.
- Location of Discovery: They were discovered in the Sri Venkateswara Wildlife Sanctuary in the Southern Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh.
- Distribution: They are found mainly in tropical ecosystems.
- Institutions involved: The research was conducted by scientists from Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bengaluru, and National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Odisha.
- Key Features
- Physical feature: They possess large, sharp mandibles and a strong stinging ability, which help them capture and subdue prey.
- Nomadic Nature: They lack permanent nests and are constantly on the move to find food for their massive colonies.
- Bivouacs: Instead of physical structures, they form temporary living quarters called “bivouacs” using the interlocked bodies of worker ants.
- Social Structure: They form massive colonies that carry out coordinated hunting activities.
- Sensory Adaptations: These ants are practically blind; they navigate and coordinate mass raids using a sophisticated system of chemical pheromones.
- Keystone predators: They regulate arthropod populations and support ecological balance.
