Incomplete (no sources!)
Giant Amazonian Ant
Dinoponera Gigantea
- Color: Black
- Worker size: 3-4 centimetres
- Colony size: 13-74 (avg.)
- Queen: 3-4 centimetres, budding, gamergate, polydomic
Introduction
The giant amazonian ant is one of if not the biggest ants in the world reaching up to lengths of 3-4 cm sized workers. The queen is around the same size, meaning it can be very difficult to spot the ant queen. Normal ants usually grow up to 2 cm at the high end of the average, but the giant amazonian ant can double that size, making it a giant. Imagine seeing a human 8.5 metres tall. That’s what it’s like to be an ant and see the giant amazonian ant.
Unique Traits
Speedy Stingers
The giant amazonian ant is 3-4 cm large, and has the ability to deliver an extremely painful sting. It isn’t known to be aggressive and only stings when threatened. They can travel at a speed of 85 cm a second, just slightly slower than the world’s fastest ant, the saharan silver ant, which travels at a speed of 85.5 cm a second.
Defences
The giant amazonian ant has a venomous sting due to the poisonous cocktail it uses. The sting is extremely painful. They also have a strong bite that they are not afraid to use. These defenses can be extremely effective at scaring away predators due to the toxins being deadly to some animals like small vertebrates. That’s another reason not to go into the Amazon rainforest on top of the 200 other reasons (there’s nothing wrong with going to the Amazon rainforest).
Habitat & Diet
The giant amazonian ant has an extremely painful sting and is extremely fast. This combination makes it extremely deadly to its prey. The venom is a mixture of chemicals, making it extremely potent to a variety of different animals. Due to this powerful combination, the diet of the amazonian ant ranges beyond just insects and honeydew.