The Driver Ant-Terror of the Forest

The Driver Ant-Terror of the Forest

1. Dorylus, also known as driver ants, safari ants, or siafu, is a large genus of army ants found primarily in central and east Africa, although the range also extends to tropical Asia.

2. The Driver Ants of Africa are so called because all animals-will flee when they approach.

3. These ants live in huge crowds of ten thousand or more. They lead a nomadic life wandering about looking for food, marching in columns of six. Because of this they are sometimes called Army Ants.

4. Can you imagine an army of millions, moving across the land, destroying everything in its way? Driver ants terrify all the animals and people in Africa when they go on the march. An army of driver ants can tear anything to pieces, even large animals and people. In three days, these ants can pick an elephant clean. They swarm over their victim and dig their teeth into its flesh. When they are finished, nothing is left but shiny, white bones. 

5. Driver ants are one of the most feared animals of the jungle, but they are only one-fourth to one-half inch long. These ants don't build nests or dig holes. When they are not on the march, they cling together under a log or in a hollow tree. 

6. When the army of ants is coming, everyone in its way runs for their lives. Only one thing stops this army sunlight. For some unknown reason the light of the sun will kill them in two minutes. So they have to move at night. When the ants have passed by and the people return to their homes, they find one good thing. The ants have cleaned out all the insects, mice, and rats that used to live there. 

7. The army ants of South America and the driver ants of Africa do not build permanent nests. Instead they roam freely. In an emergency, when they need the safety of a nest the workers form a temporary nest from their own bodies, by holding each other together.

8. In some parts of the world (mainly Africa and South America), army ants are used instead of stitches. The sides of a wound are pressed together and an ant's head is placed on it. The ant seizes the edges of the wound with its jaws. The ant's body is then cut off and the head remains firmly there until the wound heals.