Odontomachus is a genus of ants commonly called trap-jaw ants found in the tropics and subtropics throughout the world.
Overview
Head of O. hastatus
Commonly known as trap-jaw ants, species in Odontomachus have a pair of large, straight mandibles capable of opening 180°. These jaws are locked in place by an internal mechanism, and can snap shut on prey or objects when sensory hairs on the inside of the mandibles are touched. The mandibles are powerful and fast, giving the ant its common name. The mandibles either kill or maim the prey, allowing the ant to bring it back to the nest. Odontomachus ants can simply lock and snap their jaws again if one bite is not enough, or to cut off bits of larger food. The mandibles also permit slow and fine movements for other tasks such as nest building and care of larvae.[citation needed] The ants were also observed to use their jaws as a catapult to eject intruders or fling themselves backwards to escape a threat.[2][3]
The larvae of trap-jaw ants are remarkable[4] in being ornamented with long spikes and presenting dorsal adhesive pads for fixation onto internal ant nest walls.[5] They are carnivorous, extremely active larvae. Apparently, they undergo three larval moults before entering metamorphosis.[5] Their larvae use substrate to spin cocoons.[6]
Diet
Trap-jaw ants are mostly carnivorous, but also consume nectar, insect honeydew, and ripe fruit.[7]
Speed record
Trap-jaw ants of this genus have the second-fastest moving predatoryappendages within the animal kingdom,[2] after the dracula ant (Mystrium camillae).[8] One study of Odontomachus bauri recorded peak speeds between 126 and 230 km/h (78 and 143 mph), with the jaws closing within just 130 microseconds on average. The peak force exerted was in the order of 300 times the body weight of the ant, and acceleration of 1,000,000 m/s² or 100,000 g.
Odontomachus species are found in Central and South America, Asia, Australia, and Africa.[10]
In the United States, O. haematodus was "recorded in Alabama back in 1956, but now researchers have officially confirmed that the species has spread across the Gulf Coast, at least as far east as Pensacola, Florida."[11] In the past, O. ruginodis was thought to be confined to the Orlando region, but Magdalena Sorger, a PhD candidate at North Carolina State University, has confirmed a record of O. ruginodis more than 100 miles north of Orlando, in Gainesville, Florida.[12]Odontomachus relictus, however, is only found in "endangered scrub habitat on central Florida’s ancient sand ridges."[13]
^Pappas, Stephanie; May 11, Live Science Contributor |; ET, 2017 07:41am (11 May 2017). "Weird Ants Have Hairy Blobs for Babies". Live Science. Retrieved 2019-06-28. {{cite web}}: |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^Schmidt, C. A.; Shattuck, S. O. (2014). "The Higher Classification of the Ant Subfamily Ponerinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), with a Review of Ponerine Ecology and Behavior". Zootaxa. 3817 (1): 1–242. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3817.1.1. PMID24943802.
^"Powerful Trap-jaw Ants are Gaining Ground in the Southeastern United States". Entomology Today. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014. One species called Odontomachus haematodus was unofficially recorded in Alabama back in 1956. But now researchers have officially confirmed that the species has spread across the Gulf Coast, at least as far east as Pensacola, Florida.
^"Powerful Trap-jaw Ants are Gaining Ground in the Southeastern United States". Entomology Today. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014. As recently as a few years ago, another species called Odontomachus ruginodis was thought to be confined to the Orlando region, and points south. But now Sorger has confirmed a record of ruginodis more than a hundred miles north of Orlando, in Gainesville, Florida.
^"Powerful Trap-jaw Ants are Gaining Ground in the Southeastern United States". Entomology Today. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014. Not all of the trap-jaw species are on the move, however. Sorger also studies Odontomachus relictus, a species that is found only in endangered scrub habitat on central Florida's ancient sand ridges.
