Trap-Jaw Ant

Description:

This is our highland Trap-Jaw Ant, a species of Odontomachus. These are fascinating ants with small nests and individuals of about 8 mm in length, which are solitary hunters. They wander about on the ground and sometimes on the shrubbery with the mandibles closed (as in the first 3 and the last picture) unless they are actively hunting, in which case the mandibles are held open at a full 180 degrees. The tiny trigger hairs on the mandibles are visible in Pictures 4 and 5. When these hairs come in contact with prey, they trigger the instantaneous closing of the mandibles, one of the fastest biological movements known. In their nests, they have normal control of the mandibles for the gentle manipulation of eggs, larvae and pupae. These pictures represent 3 different individuals, all in the same place. Family Formicidae, Subfamily Ponerinae.

Habitat:

Semi-rural residential area, San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico, 2,200 meters.