Myrmecocystus testaceus explained

Myrmecocystus testaceus is a species of honeypot ant found throughout the southern United States. It is usually nocturnal, and nests in sand.[1]

They can spray formic acid from their gasters to melt skin tissue. Instead of stinging and swarming, they stretch their prey by the legs until it splits or dies from bites and formic acid.

Notes and References

  1. Joshua D. Day . Tara B. B. Bishop . Samuel B. St. Clair . 2018 . Fire and plant invasion, but not rodents, alter ant community abundance and diversity in a semi‐arid desert . Ecosphere . English . 9 . 7 . e02344– . 10.1002/ecs2.2344 . 2150-8925. free .