Odontomachus

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Odontomachus is a genus of carnivorous ants found in the tropics and subtropics.

Overview

Commonly known as trap-jaw ants, species in Odontomachus have a pair large, straight mandibles capable of opening 180 degrees. These jaws are locked in place, and can snap shut on prey or objects when trigger hairs on the jaw are touched. The mandbles 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. The Odontomachus can simply lock and snap its jaws again if one bite is not enough, or to cut off bits of larger food. Odontomachus can use its jaws without locking them, for other tasks such as nest building and care of larva.

The jumping spider genus Enoplomischus seems to mimic this ant genus.

External links

http://www.cs.unc.edu/~hedlund/dev/ants/GenusPages/Ponerinae/Genus190-long.html

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