Английская Википедия:Dorylus molestus

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Dorylus molestus is a species of African army ant.

Taxonomy

Older names include Anomma molestus, Dorylus (Anomma) molestus, Dorylus (Anomma) nigricans molestus, Dorylus molestus (Gerstaecker, 1859) and Dorylus nigricans molestus.Шаблон:Citation needed

Description

Males or drones of all dorylus species are so called "sausage flies" and are among the largest ant morphs. Some Dorylus molestus queen are the largest known extant ants. Queens typically grow to Шаблон:Convert but can reach Шаблон:Convert.Шаблон:Citation needed

Its size of Molestus queens allows it to hold the world record in egg laying. Workers (sterile females in the presence of the only living queen) range from Шаблон:Convert. Huge and specialised soldier morphs (permanent sterile females) provide protection during migration raids.Шаблон:Citation needed

Ecology

D molestus is an East African surface swarm raider army ant. The species is important to its ecology; it supports myrmycophile fauna, especially east African birds that attend its raids and depend on the ants' presence in their habitat. Its predatory habits contribute to (mainly) arthropod biodiversity. They attack all animals that are unable to flee and smaller animals that react too slowly, including other Dorylus groups. They invade nests of other social species, such as termites.Шаблон:Citation needed

D molestus builds temporary surface bivouac nests, which are regularly attacked by a smaller subterran army ant of the same genus, Dorylus (Typhlopone) fulvus badius. A colony engages in foraging raids and also in straight migration raids. Colonies that lose their sole queen sometimes fuse with other colonies or produce (haploid) males before dying out.Шаблон:Citation needed

The species is capable of surviving in environments other than forests, but it is not yet known if they can survive easily without even a small nearby forest. This ant species inspired early swarm intelligence studies.Шаблон:Citation needed

External links

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