Beneficial Species Profile Photo credit: April Nobile, California Academy of Sciences (Specimen: CASENT0104978; from https://www.antweb.org) Common Name: Predatory Ant (Legionary ants; New World army ants) Scientific Name: Labidus coecus Order and Family: Order Hymenoptera; Family Formicidae Size and Appearance: Length (mm) Appearance Egg Larva/Nymph Adult Workers range These ants have a prominent stinger, 12 segmented from 3 – 10 mm antennae without a club, and a two-part waist. The workers are polymorphic and lack eyes and dorsal spines. The workers are red with a smooth and shiny face. Pupa (if applicable) Type of feeder (Chewing, sucking, etc.): Chewing Host(s): Because this predatory ant primarily forages through the ground, it has a more generalized diet but feeds mostly on the brood of other ants and will feed on scavenged items, including human food scraps. Description of Benefits (predator, parasitoid, pollinator, etc.): This army ant is nearly completely subterranean and its raids may foster ant species diversity, which benefits the ecosystem and may control pest insect species in agricultural systems. They do prey on screwworm larvae, which are a pest of livestock. Related species have been used to do this in China for hundreds of years. This predatory ant is found in North, Central, and South America. In the USA, this ant is found in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Texas. References: Gotwald, W.H. (1995). Army ants: the biology of social predation. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press. Harris, R. & Berry, J. (n.d.). Labidus coecus (Latreille), invasive ant threat, information sheet # 8. Retrieved from: https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/51015/8.pdf Klotz, J., Hansen, L., Pospischil, R., & Rust, M. (2008). Urban ants of North American and Europe: identification, biology, and management. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press. Species: Labidus coecus. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.antweb.org/description.do?genus=labidus&name=coecus&rank=species .