Army ant Army ant The name army ant (or legionary ant or marabunta) is applied to over 200 ant species, in different lineages, due to their aggressive predatory foraging groups, known as "raids", in which huge numbers of ants forage simultaneously over a certain area. Another shared feature is that, unlike most ant species, army ants do not construct permanent nests: an army ant colony moves almost incessantly over the time it exists. All species are members of the true ant family, Formicidae, but several groups have independently evolved the same basic behavioral and ecological syndrome. This syndrome is often referred to
Erratic ant nest structure to concentrate solar heat onto the ants' brood. Nuptial flights take place in June, although they may be postponed during colder years to July. Erratic ant The erratic ant ("Tapinoma erraticum") is a species of dolichoderine ant first described in 1789 by Latreille. This species ranges throughout Central Europe from the mountains of south Italy to north Germany. It is present in coastal areas of Southern England and on the islands of Gotland and Öland in Sweden. A thermophilic species, "T. erraticum" is found principally on dry heathland, exposed to the sun. The workers are very agile, and