Odontomachus assiniensis. The odd, alien-shaped head of a trap-jaw ant serves to house the set of muscles and latches that operate the ant's mandibular trap. St. Lucia, KZN, South Africa - Alex Wild Photography - Insect Photography

Trap-Jaw Ants

Several lineages of ants have independently evolved an effective predatory device: spring-loaded mandibles that snap shut on a hair trigger.

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Odontomachus meinerti, with mandibles locked into the "ready-to-fire" position, trigger hairs pointing forward.

Misiones, Argentina

Odontomachus cephalotes

Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia

An Odontomachus meinerti worker threatens the photographer.

Misiones, Argentina

Odontomachus meinerti is the smallest of the new world Odontomachus species.

Misiones, Argentina

The tip of the trap: the blunt-force weapons of the trap-jaw ant Odontomachus meinerti.

Misiones, Argentina

Odontomachus clarus, the desert trap-jaw ant.

Portal, Arizona, USA

Spiky larvae are characteristic of ponerine ants. Here, an Odontomachus clarus desert trap-jaw ant tends to larvae in the brood nest.

Portal, Arizona, USA

Odontomachus brunneus is the common trap-jaw ant along the gulf coast of the southern United States.

Elsanor, Alabama, USA

Odontomachus assiniensis. The odd, alien-shaped head of a trap-jaw ant serves to house the set of muscles and latches that operate the ant's mandibular trap.

St. Lucia, KZN, South Africa

Canon EOS 20D |

More details: exif |

Original size: 2336x3504 |

Current: 400x600 |

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Trap-Jaw Ants

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