Studies on Army Ants in Panama

article by Schneirla

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July 14, 2026

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Army ants are aggressive, nomadic ants found in tropical regions that prey on insects and spiders. Theodore Christian Schneirla, an American animal psychologist, conducted early studies on their behavior in Panama. His research revealed that army ants operate on a 36-day cycle, alternating between nomadic and stationary phases. Schneirla also observed that their raids are influenced by the colony's excitability rather than prey scarcity, and that weather changes can trigger bursts of activity. These ants are considered keystone species, significantly impacting their ecosystems.1234

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Theodore Christian Schneirla
His “Studies on Army Ants in Panama,” published the next year, provided new insight into their behaviour. He discovered that these ants operate on a 36-day cycle consisting of a 16-day nomadic pattern followed by a 20-day stationary phase. In 1934 he reported that ants follow…
Read More
His “Studies on Army Ants in Panama,” published the next year, provided new insight into their behaviour. He discovered that these ants operate on a 36-day cycle consisting of a 16-day nomadic pattern followed by a 20-day stationary phase. In 1934 he reported that ants follow…
Read More