The brightly colored head of Odontomachus erythrocephalus makes this species among the most recognizable trap-jaw ants.

Icononzo, Tolima, Colombia
Odontomachus erythrocephalus

Icononzo, Tolima, Colombia
Anochetus paripungens. Although the trap-jaw ant's mandibles are designed for predation, they must also serve domestic duty. Here, a worker ant transports a pupa.

Northern Territory, Australia
Anochetus mayri is a small species broadly distributed in the Caribbean and Central and South America.  This individual is from a population that has recently colonized suburban Florida, becoming one of many non-native ant species in the state.

West Palm Beach, Florida, USA
Anochetus mayri is a small species broadly distributed in the Caribbean and Central and South America.  This individual is from a population that has recently colonized suburban Florida, becoming one of many non-native ant species in the state.

West Palm Beach, Florida, USA
Odontomachus clarus, the desert trap-jaw ant.

Portal, Arizona, USA
Odontomachus cephalotes

Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia
Odontomachus coquereli

Madagascar
Odontomachus coquereli

Madagascar
Odontomachus coquereli

Madagascar
Odontomachus coquereli

Madagascar
Odontomachus coquereli

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