File:Eciton burchellii queen, male, Venezuela, Daniel Kronauer.jpg

Summary
Observing army ants mating in the wild is essentially impossible, because the queens never leave the colony. It is, however, possible to stage matings in the lab. Here is a male and queen of Eciton burchellii in action. Copulation in army ants can last for several hours, and queens mate with many more males than in any other type of ant. Rancho Grande Biological Station, Henri Pittier National Park, Venezuela.

Photo by Daniel Kronauer.