About Eciton hamatum (Fabricius, 1782)
Eciton hamatum (Fabricius, 1782) is a species of army ant belonging to the subfamily Dorylinae. Its geographic range extends from Mexico to central Brazil and Bolivia. This species differs from Eciton burchellii in its foraging behavior: unlike E. burchellii, it does not fan out into the underbrush while foraging. Instead, it forages along distinct columns, often forages in trees, and preys exclusively on the larvae of other social insects. Its most common prey items include the broods of vespid wasps, and ants from the genera Dolichoderus and Camponotus. This prey preference indicates that E. hamatum is primarily an arboreal forager. These ants are also known to form living bridges over small gaps by linking their own bodies together.
