Neivamyrmex nigrescens

Watkins, J. F. II, Gehlback, F. R., and Kroll J. C., 1969, Attractant-repellent secretions of blind snakes (Leptotyphlops dulcis) and their army ant prey (Neivamyrmex nigrescens), Ecology 50 1098-1101. 

Among the few predators of army ants, is the blind snake, Leptotyphlops dulcis, which attacks Neivamyrmex nigrescens and N. opacithorax (Watkins et al., 1969). It is able to locate army ants by following their trails. If attacked by the ants, it releases a cloacal sac secretion containing fatty acids in a slippery... 

Fig. 15.14 Diagram to show the chemical stimuli involved in reactions between the blind snake Leptotyphlops dulcis and its prey, Neivamyrmex nigrescens, according to hypotheses of Watkins et al. (1969) and Blum et al. (1971). Plus signs indicate attraction ( + ) repellency (-).

Topoff, H. and Lawson, K. (1979) Orientation of the army ant Neivamyrmex nigrescens integration of chemical and tactile information. Anim. Behav., 27, 429-33. 

Topoff, H. and Mirenda, J. (1980) Army ants do not eat and run influence of food supply on emigration behaviour in Neivamyrmex nigrescens. Anim. Behav., 28, 1040-6. 

Blind snakes find their prey by using the prey s pheromones. The wormlike Texas blind snake, Leptotyphlops dulcis, of the southwestern United States leads a subterranean life and feeds on termites and ant brood. It finds ants by following their pheromone trails (Gehlbach etal, 1968). Other blind snakes such as the American blindsnake, Typhlops pusillus (Gehlbach et al, 1971), and the Australian blindsnake, Ramphotyphlops nigrescens (Webb and Shine, 1992), also follow odor trails of ants, their prey. Texas blind snakes are attracted to the simple alkaloid skatole (methyl indole Fig. 12.4), an amine with an unpleasant odor from the ant Neivamyrmex sp. (Watkins etal, 1969). 

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