A testy bulldog ant (Myrmecia nigriscapa) advances on the camera that intrudes on her nest.  The large eyes of this ant give her excellent vision.

Wilsons Promontory National Park, Victoria, Australia
Odontomachus meinerti, with mandibles locked into the "ready-to-fire" position, trigger hairs pointing forward.

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

Misiones, Argentina
An Odontomachus meinerti worker threatens the photographer.

Misiones, Argentina
Sensitive trigger hairs of the trap-jaw ant Odontomachus coquereli protrude forward from the base of the mandibles.

Madagascar
Caught!  A small cricket is impaled on the mandibles of a malagasy trap-jaw ant, Odontomachus coquereli.

Madagascar
Caught!  A small cricket is impaled on the mandibles of a malagasy trap-jaw ant, Odontomachus coquereli.

Madagascar
Caught!  A small cricket is impaled on the mandibles of a malagasy trap-jaw ant, Odontomachus coquereli.

Madagascar
An Odontomachus meinerti worker threatens the photographer.

Misiones, Argentina
Sensitive trigger hairs of the trap-jaw ant Odontomachus coquereli protrude forward from the base of the mandibles.

Madagascar
Sensitive trigger hairs of the trap-jaw ant Odontomachus coquereli protrude forward from the base of the mandibles.

Madagascar
Sensitive trigger hairs of the trap-jaw ant Odontomachus coquereli protrude forward from the base of the mandibles.

Madagascar
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013