I did not know that. All I knew is that the first victim killed in the movie, the scientist told the New Mexico State police officer that they were filled with formic acid! But I was young then, I didn’t instinctively know that had something to do with ants. It was probably a spoiler for any biologist in the audience.
The queen of Messor cephalotes measures between 22 and 25 mm (0.9 and 1.0 in) in length, while workers range from 5 to 19 mm (0.2 to 0.7 in). The species exhibits polymorphism, with three worker castes: minor, media, and major. The queen’s head is red, thorax black, and abdomen red-patterned. Workers are mostly red with black abdomens.[1]