Predation on an Atta cephalotes colony by an army ant, Nomamyrmex esenbeckii. Its two species are distributed in the Neotropics: Nomamyrmex esenbeckii is known from southern United States to northern Argentina, and Nomamyrmex hartigii is known from Mexico to southern Brazil. Biotropica 30:682-684 On the other hand N. hartigi, is apparently more of a specialist predator on termites, however little is known about this species due to it's more secretive habits." Nomamyrmex esenbeckii is the only known predator of mature colonies of Atta leaf-cutter ants.. Predation on an Atta cephalotes colony by an army ant, Nomamyrmex esenbeckii. Thus, approximately 60,568 brood items were removed by N. esenbeckii. The species and subspecies of Nomamyrmex (Dorylinae: Formicidae). The summary below regarding raids and emigrations is based on these resources unless stated otherwise. Nomamyrmex is a genus of army ants in the subfamily Dorylinae. The mean density of laden outbound raiders was twelve (SD ±7) per metre and their mean running speed was 0.04 m/s (SD ±0.005). The mean wet weight of the Attabrood sample was 17.1 mg (SD ±16.7), and the mean dry weight was 3.1 mg (SD ±3.0). I did not see many dead Nomamyrmex. New World army ants (Ecitoninae) are specialist social predators of other ants, and the army ant Nomamyrmex esenbeckii, a primarily subterranean species, is known to prey upon young Atta colonies. The obvious giveaway, though, is that leafcutters are the only ants you’ll see carrying pieces of freshly-cut vegetation.
Watkins, J. F. II 1977. ... (Sánchez-Peña and Mueller 2002). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 50:203-214. Literature Cited. Biotropica 30:682-684. Borgmeier (1955) and Rettenmeyer (1963) summarize what was known about Nomamyrmex to date, most observations being on Nomamyrmex esenbeckii. Swartz, M. B. Atta and Acromyrmex are large (3-12mm), generally reddish in color, with long legs, a slender two-segmented waist, and a thorax bearing several pairs of spines. 1998.