Formica , pt., Linn. Syst. Nat. i. 965 (1766).
Odontomachus , Latr. Gen. Crust, et Ins. iv. 128 (1804).
Fundnotiz: Alaotra-See (Madagaskar).
Medium-sized or large ants closely resembling Anochetus .
In the worker, however, the antennal foveae are confluent, being united by a depression of the front behind the frontal carinae, and there is a welt or swelling which extends out obliquely from the eye and separates the antennal fossa from a depression, equally oblique and very pronounced on the side of the head. Both the apical and subapical teeth of the mandibles acute, the preapical truncated or acute, according to the species; the inner border of the mandibles usually minutely and serrately toothed. Maxillary palpi 4-jointed, labial palpi 3-jointed. Eyes always well developed. Petiole surmounted by a conical node usually terminating in a spine which is inclined backward.
Female winged, with large eyes and ocelli, but in other respects like the worker.
Male with the head of the ordinary shape and with very large eyes and ocelli; mandibles very small; maxillary palpi 6-jointed. Antennae as in Anochetus . Petiole ordinarily with a pointed or conical node, but without terminal spine. Postpetiole separated from the succeeding segment by a rather pronounced constriction. Pygidium terminating in a spine. Claws simple.
Odontomachus is a tropicopolitan genus with apparently two centers of distribution, one in the Neotropical, the other in the Indonesian and Australian Regions (Map 17). One species, O. haematoda , represented by numerous subspecies and varieties, is found in all the wanner regions of the globe, even in the Southern United States, though not in the Mediterranean Region. The species all nest in small colonies in the ground or in rotten wood and the workers of some of the species are very aggressive and sting severely. They are able to leap backward a distance of several inches by suddenly closing their divaricated mandibles against any hard body that happens to be in the environment. The genus is poorly represented in Africa.
(Figs. 1, 8a-e)
Males winged. Antennal scrobe absent. Mandible reduced. Basal cavity of mandible extending to its front face and visible in full-face view. Notauli never impressed on mesoscutum. Mesepimeron bearing distinct (epimeral) lobe posterodorsally, lobe covering mesothoracic spiracle and seeming to form isolated plate. Dorsolateral corner of petiole in anterior view not projecting. Dorsal margin of petiole in anterior view more or less conical, with a narrowly rounded or pointed apex. Apical margin of abdominal tergum VIII projecting into sharp spine. Jugal lobe of hind wing present. Each middle and hind tibia with two spurs. Claws simple, never multidentate to pectinate.
Remarks. Two species are known in the Malagasy region. The males of both species are yellow to yellowish-brown. In the single species from the Seychelles ( O. simillimus ) the males are blackish. Males belonging to this genus are often similar to those in Anochetus and Pachycondyla . Characteristics separating this genus from Anochetus are noted in the Anochetus section. Characters separating it from Pachycondyla are: 1) petiolar apex more or less conical; 2) hind wing having a jugal lobe; 3) absence of notauli on the mesoscutum; and 4) a yellowish (rarely blackish) body color.
Alto Paraguay, Caaguazú , Central, Cordillera, Itapúa (ALWC, IFML, INBP, MZSP).
[[ worker ]] [[ queen ]] Die Fuehlergruben vereinigen sich auf der Stirne. Das 2. Geisselglied ist laenger als das erste. Die Scheitel furche ist vorhanden. Der schiefe Eindruck beiderseits hinter den Augen deutlich. Das Stielchen traegt oben einen Kegel, welcher in einen Dorn endet.
Ich enthalte mich der Beschreibung von nur neu scheinenden Formen, indem ich, obschon im Besitze mancher Typen, doch nicht im Stande bin, mir eine klare Uebersicht ueber die beschriebenen Arten zu verschaffen; es scheint mir, dass hier die Speciesfabrikation zu sehr Platz gegriffen hat und eine bedeutende Reduction noethig sein wird.
differs from the last in the one abdominal pedicle ending superiorly in a spine; antennae very slender and filiform in the neuters; head oblong, much notched posteriorly jaws long, narrow, parallel, three toothed.
Trap-jaw ants are a genus (Odontomachus) of omnivorous 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. 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 of this genus have the second-fastest moving predatory appendages within the animal kingdom,[2] after the dracula ant (Mystrium camillae).[7] 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.[8]
Odontomachus species are found in Central and South America, Asia, Australia, and Africa.[9]
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."[10] 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.[11] Odontomachus relictus, however, is only found in "endangered scrub habitat on central Florida’s ancient sand ridges."[12]
73 valid species[13]
{{cite web}}: |first2= has generic name (help) Trap-jaw ants are a genus (Odontomachus) of omnivorous ants found in the tropics and subtropics throughout the world.
