Tropical forest clearing efforts by humans has detrimented the survival of Eciton burchellii colonies.
Since they are above-ground foragers, they are extremely sensitive to forest clearing and habitat destruction.
These habitats have more variable ground-level temperatures, exposure to direct sunlight, and increased visibility.
Insects, in general, are very vulnerable to the effects of dehydration because of their large surface area to volume ratio.
Survival in the exposed conditions brought about by forest clearing is physiologically difficult.

The male Eciton burchellii are extremely affected by a fragmented forest habitat.
Even though the males can fly, their dispersal is limited by the predation of nocturnal insectivores that can easily spot their larger bodies in the cleared forest patches.
Also, the males seem to have no defenses, which contrasts greatly with the queen's hordes of stinging protectors.
With the fragmented forest hindering the males' dispersal, gene flow is reduced among the Eciton burchellii populations.

Higher elevations were found to help alleviate some of the effects of the cleared forests because of the decreased temperature and increased cloud cover.
However, the amount of above-ground raids were shown to decrease with an increase in elevation.
No Eciton burchellii colonies were found above 23.8 degrees North.
Tropical forest clearing efforts by humans has detrimented the survival of Eciton burchellii colonies. Since they are above-ground foragers, they are extremely sensitive to forest clearing and habitat destruction. These habitats have more variable ground-level temperatures, exposure to direct sunlight, and increased visibility. Insects, in general, are very vulnerable to the effects of dehydration because of their large surface area to volume ratio. Survival in the exposed conditions brought about by forest clearing is physiologically difficult.
The male Eciton burchellii are extremely affected by a fragmented forest habitat. Even though the males can fly, their dispersal is limited by the predation of nocturnal insectivores that can easily spot their larger bodies in the cleared forest patches. Also, the males seem to have no defenses, which contrasts greatly with the queen's hordes of stinging protectors. With the fragmented forest hindering the males' dispersal, gene flow is reduced among the Eciton burchellii populations.
Higher elevations were found to help alleviate some of the effects of the cleared forests because of the decreased temperature and increased cloud cover. However, the amount of above-ground raids were shown to decrease with an increase in elevation. No Eciton burchellii colonies were found above 23.8 degrees North.
Eciton burchellii