Evidence for this claim includes the fact that host-location cues used by A. paraponerae to locate two of the host species differ.

They both occupy the neotropical region and are widespread in the lowland rainforests of Brazil, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and northern Argentina.

However, ant species in the subfamilies Myrmicinae and Formicinae were not suitable for larval development, indicating a taxonomic limit to host range.

[7] A. paraponerae utilize both visual and chemical cues to locate injured or freshly killed hosts for feeding and egg-laying.

These injuries species are often the result of interspecies aggression and serve as ideal hosts for A. paraponerae to lay their egg on.

[9] In addition to visual cues, A. paraponerae are also attracted to 4-methyl-3-heptanone and 4-methyl-3-heptanol, which are major products of the mandibular glands of the host ant P.

[2] As these chemicals are released by fighting, injured, and freshly killed workers, A. paraponerae may use these pheromones to locate suitable targets for feeding or egg-laying.

[2] In an experiment, A. paraponerae were found to be equally attracted to ants that were treated with hexane, but unwilling to lay eggs on them.

[9] This suggests that A. paraponerae is either unwilling or unable to lay eggs on ants lacking the characteristic chemical signals of 4-methyl-3-heptanone and 4-methyl-3-heptanol.

More research is necessary on additional host-finding cues, as A. paraponerae are not attracted to other ant species with the same mandibular gland components as P.