soldier ant
Insect military caste
A soldier ant is a member of a specialized caste within certain ant colonies, distinguished by a larger body and powerful mandibles adapted for defense.
Soldiers protect the colony from predators and rival insects, and in some species help process food.
The term applies broadly across ant species that exhibit this division of labor: Soldier ants guarded the entrance while workers carried larvae deeper into the nest.
- colonyDependent territorial settlement
- mandiblesPaired arthropod mouthparts
- swarmMass of moving insects
- armyOrganized land-based military
- insectSix-legged invertebrate
march · bite · bug bite · pheromone · nest · anthill · crawl · exoskeleton · leafcutter · hive · tunnel · scurry · antenna · warrior · defensive formation · raid · protect · tiny
soldier antforager
One seeking wild food
worker ant · queen ant · drone · leaf-cutter · worker
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