Labidus praedator

Barth et al. (2015) - One of the most abundant and ubiquitous Neotropical swarm-raiders is Labidus praedator with extremely large colonies (probably over 1,000,000 individuals) and a wide distribution range spanning from Mexico to northern Argentina (Rettenmeyer 1963; Schneirla 1971; Watkins 1976; Longino 2005). Raids of L. praedator are frequent in the Neotropics (Kaspari and O’Donnell 2003; O’Donnell et al. 2007) and can deplete invertebrate biomass in the litter by up to 75 % (Kaspari et al. 2011).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela.

Biology
Barth et al. (2015) found genetic differences among four colonies of L praedator that were all collected within a range of 10 km around the city of Tapachula (Chiapas) Mexico. They suggested their findings indicate there are two sympatric species present that are not distinguishable from morphological differences. This supports and adds further evidence to a hypothesis there are numerous species subsumed under this single species name.

Nomenclature

 *  praedator. Eciton praedator Smith, F. 1858b: 152 (s.w.) BRAZIL. Forel, 1906d: 246 (m.); Luederwaldt, 1918: 54 (q.). Combination in E. (Labidus): Bruch, 1914: 215; in Labidus: Borgmeier, 1953: 16. Senior synonym of tepeguas: Mayr, 1886b: 118; Borgmeier, 1955: 103; of westwoodi: Emery, 1910b: 23; Borgmeier, 1955: 103; of emiliae, guianense: Borgmeier, 1953: 10, 19, respectively; of ferruginea: Borgmeier, 1955: 103. Current subspecies: nominal plus sedulus. See also: Gallardo, 1920: 333; Bruch, 1921: 181; Watkins, 1976: 8.
 * ferruginea. Eciton tepeguas var. ferruginea Norton, 1868b: 46 (s.) MEXICO. Subspecies of praedator: Dalla Torre, 1893: 5; Forel, 1899c: 26. Junior synonym of praedator: Borgmeier, 1955: 86.
 * tepeguas. Eciton tepeguas Norton, 1868b: 46 (s.) MEXICO. Junior synonym of praedator: Mayr, 1886b: 118; Borgmeier, 1955: 103.
 * westwoodi. Eciton westwoodi Emery, 1900a: 180 (m.) MEXICO. Junior synonym of praedator: Emery, 1910b: 23; Borgmeier, 1955: 103.
 * emiliae. Eciton (Labidus) praedator subsp. emiliae Mann, 1916: 421 (s.w.) BRAZIL. Junior synonym of praedator: Borgmeier, 1953: 10.
 * guianense. Eciton (Labidus) praedator var. guianense Wheeler, W.M. 1921d: 311 (s.w.) GUYANA. Junior synonym of praedator: Borgmeier, 1953: 19.