Eciton hamatum

von Beeren et al. (2018) found the Wasmannian mimic rove-beetle Ecitophya gracillima in colonies of this species in La Selva biological station in Costa Rica. An analysis of cuticular hydrocarbons showed both the ants and beetle had similar CHC profiles. Laboratory behavioral assays showed the beetles sought contact with host ants and often engaged in reciprocal grooming behavior with workers.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela.

Castes

 * Worker

Nomenclature

 *  hamatum. Formica hamata Fabricius, 1782: 494 (s.) FRENCH GUIANA. Mayr, 1886b: 121 (w.); Emery, 1896g: 39 (m.); Wheeler, W.M. 1925c: 145 (q.); Wheeler, G.C. 1943: 327 (l.). Combination in Eciton: Latreille, 1804: 179; in Camptognatha: Gray, G.R. 1832: 16; in Eciton: Smith, F. 1855c: 161. Senior synonym of curvidentata: Smith, F. 1858b: 148; of amazona, funesta, mattogrossensis, pittieri: Borgmeier, 1953: 14, 13, 10, 9 repectively; of testacea: Kempf, 1972a: 102. See also: Borgmeier, 1955: 214; Tafuri, 1957: 21; Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1964c: 134; Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1984: 269.
 * curvidentata. Formica curvidentata Latreille, 1802c: 269, pl. 8, fig. 55 (w.) FRENCH GUIANA. Combination in Eciton: Lepeletier, 1835: 179. Junior synonym of hamatum: Smith, F. 1858b: 148.
 * testacea. Camptognatha testacea Gray, G.R. 1832: 516, pl 76, fig. 4 (w.) no locality given. Junior synonym of hamatum: Kempf, 1972a: 102.
 * pittieri. Eciton pittieri Forel, 1899c: 24, pl. 1, fig. 15 (w.) COSTA RICA. Combination in E. (Labidus): Emery, 1910b: 23; in E. (Holopone): Santschi, 1925b: 11. Junior synonym of hamatum: Borgmeier, 1953: 9.
 * mattogrossensis. Eciton hamatum var. mattogrossensis Luederwaldt, 1920: 4 (w.) BRAZIL. Santschi, 1925d: 221 (s.m.); Reichensperger, 1926: 401 (q.). Raised to species: Santschi, 1925d: 221. Junior synonym of hamatum: Borgmeier, 1953: 10.
 * funesta. Eciton hamatum var. funesta Santschi, 1921g: 89 (s.w.) COSTA RICA. Junior synonym of hamatum: Borgmeier, 1953: 13.
 * amazona. Eciton amazona Santschi, 1923d: 68 (s.w.) BRAZIL. Subspecies of mattogrosense: Santschi, 1925d: 221. Junior synonym of hamatum: Borgmeier, 1953: 14.