West African Driver Ant vs Hooked Army Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute West African Driver Ant Hooked Army Ant
Scientific Name Dorylus molestus Eciton hamatum
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Formicidae Formicidae
Size 3-14 mm 3-11 mm
Habitat Forests Forests
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions East Africa, Kenya, Tanzania Central America, South America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

West African Driver Ant

A large East African driver ant known for its painful bites that are difficult to remove once clamped. Columns can stretch for hundreds of meters through montane forests.

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Did You Know?

Their major workers have sickle-shaped mandibles so powerful that they can pierce leather boots.

Hooked Army Ant

A column-raiding army ant that forms narrow trails rather than broad swarm fronts. It specializes in raiding the nests of other social insects, particularly wasps and ants.

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Did You Know?

Unlike the broad raids of Eciton burchellii, this species sends targeted column raids directly to specific prey nests.