| Odontomachus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Odontomachus monticola | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Ponerinae |
| Tribe: | Odontomachini |
| Genus: | Odontomachus Latreille, 1804 |
| Type species | |
| Formica haematoda | |
| Diversity [1] | |
| 73 species | |
| Synonyms | |
ChampsomyrmexEmery, 1892 Contents | |
Odontomachus is a genus of ants commonly called trap-jaw ants found in the tropics and subtropics throughout the world.
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]
Trap-jaw ants are mostly carnivorous, but also consume nectar, insect honeydew, and ripe fruit. [7]
Trap-jaw ants of this genus have the second-fastest moving predatory appendages 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.
The jumping spider genus Enoplomischus seems to mimic this ant genus. [9]
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]
The 73 valid species are: [14]
Dorylus, also known as driver ants, safari ants, or siafu, is a large genus of army ants found primarily in central and east Africa, although the range also extends to southern Africa and tropical Asia. The term siafu is a loanword from Swahili, and is one of numerous similar words from regional Bantu languages used by indigenous peoples to describe various species of these ants. Unlike the New World members of the former subfamily Ecitoninae, members of this genus form temporary subterranean bivouacs in underground cavities which they excavate and inhabit - either for a few days or up to three months. Also unlike some New World army ants, driver ants are not specialized predators of other species of ant, instead being more generalistic with a diet consisting of a diversity of arthropods. Colonies are enormous compared to other army ants and can contain over 20 million individuals. As with their American counterparts, workers exhibit caste polymorphism with the soldiers having particularly large heads that power their scissor-like mandibles. They are capable of stinging, but very rarely do so, relying instead on their powerful shearing jaws. Driver ant queens are the largest living ants known, with the largest measuring between 40 - 63 millimeters in total body length depending on their physiological condition.
Tapinoma is a genus of ants that belongs to the subfamily Dolichoderinae. The genus currently comprises 74 described species distributed worldwide in tropical and temperate regions. Members of are generalized foragers, nesting in a wide variety of habitats, ranging from grasslands, open fields, woodlands, to inside buildings. The majority of species nest in the ground under objects such as stones or tree logs, other species build nests under bark of logs and stumps, in plant cavities, insect galls or refuse piles.
Anonychomyrma is a genus of ants in the subfamily Dolichoderinae.
Myrmica is a genus of ants within the subfamily Myrmicinae. It is widespread throughout the temperate regions of the Holarctic and high mountains in Southeast Asia.
Odontomachus bauri is a species of ponerinae ant known as trap jaw ants. The trap jaw consists of mandibles which contain a spring-loaded catch mechanism.
Aphaenogaster is a genus of myrmicine ants. About 200 species have been described, including 18 fossil species. They occur worldwide except in South America south of Colombia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Antarctica.
Crematogaster is an ecologically diverse genus of ants found worldwide, which are characterised by a distinctive heart-shaped gaster (abdomen), which gives them one of their common names, the Saint Valentine ant. Members of this genus are also known as cocktail ants because of their habit of raising their abdomens when alarmed. Most species are arboreal (tree-dwelling). These ants are sometimes known as acrobat ants.
Tetramorium is a genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae that includes more than 520 species. These ants are also known as pavement ants.
Myrmoteras is a genus of ants in the subfamily Formicinae and the sole member of the tribe Myrmoteratini. They have enormous eyes, a character found in other ancient genera, and extremely elongated mandibles with eight to 16 teeth. These work as trap-jaws and can open up to 270°.
Aenictus is a large army ant genus distributed in the Old World tropics and subtropics. It contains about 181 species, making it one of the larger ant genera of the world.
Anochetus is a genus of small, carnivorous ants found in the tropics and subtropics throughout the world.
Odontomachus brunneus is a species of ant in the subfamily Ponerinae, found in the southeastern United States, parts of Central America, and the West Indies.
Rhytidoponera is a large genus of ants in the subfamily Ectatomminae. The genus is known from Australia and Melanesia, with New Caledonia as the most eastern limit.
Vollenhovia is a genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae.
Pristomyrmex is a genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae.
Pseudolasius is a genus of ants in the subfamily Formicinae. The genus is known from southern Asia to northern Australia, where it appears to be restricted to tropical areas. These ants are commonly known as twig ants due to their habit of nesting in twigs or hollow stems.
Odontomachus paleomyagra is an extinct species of formicid in the ant subfamily Ponerinae known from a Miocene fossil found in Europe.
Odontomachus assiniensis is a species of ponerinae ant known as a trap-jaw ant. The trap-jaw mechanism consists of mandibles which spring shut when triggered. This ant was first described in 1892 by the Italian entomologist Carlo Emery. The type locality is the Ivory Coast, where the coastal site of Assini, in the southeast, gIves the specific name assiniensis, "of Assini".
Odontomachus haematodus is a species of trapjaw ant commonly referred to as two-spined trapjaw ant native to South America. It has since been introduced into the United States. The species typically nests in rotting wood, although in certain places the ant can nest within plants such as Aechmea aquilega. Workers forage both during the day and nocturnally, relying on the fast snapping of their jaws. It is a known predator of Thoropa taophora tadpoles.
{{cite web}}: |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)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.
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.
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.
