Showcase Australia

Trap-jaw Ant (Odontomachus sp), Toodyay WA © Jean and Fred Hort

Odontomachus sp (Trap-jaw Ant)

FormicidaeFormicidae Index Ants More Ants in Australia Caste Systems, Colonies and Anthills Invasive Ants in Australia Camponotus Ants Camponotus aurocinctus Camponotus consobrinus (Banded Sugar Ant) Camponotus inflatus (Honey Ant) Camponotus innexus (Antarctic Sugar Ant) Chelaner kiliani (Mono Ant) Dolichoderus doriae (Dolly Ant) Dolichoderus scabridus Iridomyrmex purpureus Leptomyrmex erythrocephalus (Red-headed Spider Ant) Melophorus bagoti Myrmecia brevinoda (Nocturnal Bull Ant) Myrmecia forficata (Inchman Ant) Myrmecia gulosa (Red Bull Ant) Myrmecia impaternata Myrmecia mandibularis Myrmecia nigrocincta (Jumping Jack Ant) Myrmecia pilosula (Jack Jumper Ant) Myrmecia pyriformis (Inch Ant) Myrmecia rubripes (Bullant) Myrmecia tarsata (Australian Jumper Ant) Notoncus gilberti Notoncus spinisquamis Odontomachus sp (Trap-jaw Ant) Oecophylla smaragdina (Green Tree Ant) Opisthopsis rufithorax Polyrhachis Pseudoneoponera sublaevis Rhytidoponera aspera Rhytidoponera metallica (Green-head Ant)

Odontomachus is a genus of ants found in the tropics and subtropics throughout the world. Commonly known as the Trap-jaw Ants, the ants pictured here were photographed in Toodyay in Western Australia.

Trap-jaw Ant (Odontomachus sp), Toodyay WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Trap-jaw Ant (Odontomachus sp), Toodyay WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Trap-jaw Ant (Odontomachus sp), Toodyay WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Trap-jaw Ant (Odontomachus sp), Toodyay WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Trap-jaw Ant (Odontomachus sp), Toodyay WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Trap-jaw Ant (Odontomachus sp), Toodyay WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Trap-jaw Ant (Odontomachus sp), Toodyay WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Trap-jaw Ant (Odontomachus sp), Toodyay WA © Jean and Fred Hort

The Trap-jaw Ant, eventually iwent down this hole in a mound of litter consisting of fallen tree fruit and pebbles.

Trap-jaw Ant (Odontomachus sp), Toodyay WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Trap-jaw Ant (Odontomachus sp) nest hole, Toodyay WA © Jean and Fred Hort

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Hymenoptera
  • Superfamily: Verspoidea
  • Family: Formicidae
  • Subfamily: Ponerinae
  • Tribe: Ponerini
  • Genus: Odontomachus
  • Species:
    • Odontomachus cephalotes Smith, 1863
    • Odontomachus ruficeps Smith, 1858
    • Odontomachus simillimus Smith, 1858
    • Odontomachus turneri Forel, 1900

Footnote & References

  1. Trap-jaw Ant (Odontomachus sp), Photographs © Jean and Fred Hort
  2. Odontomachus Latreille, 1804, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Odontomachus

FormicidaeFormicidae Index Ants More Ants in Australia Caste Systems, Colonies and Anthills Invasive Ants in Australia Camponotus Ants Camponotus aurocinctus Camponotus consobrinus (Banded Sugar Ant) Camponotus inflatus (Honey Ant) Camponotus innexus (Antarctic Sugar Ant) Chelaner kiliani (Mono Ant) Dolichoderus doriae (Dolly Ant) Dolichoderus scabridus Iridomyrmex purpureus Leptomyrmex erythrocephalus (Red-headed Spider Ant) Melophorus bagoti Myrmecia brevinoda (Nocturnal Bull Ant) Myrmecia forficata (Inchman Ant) Myrmecia gulosa (Red Bull Ant) Myrmecia impaternata Myrmecia mandibularis Myrmecia nigrocincta (Jumping Jack Ant) Myrmecia pilosula (Jack Jumper Ant) Myrmecia pyriformis (Inch Ant) Myrmecia rubripes (Bullant) Myrmecia tarsata (Australian Jumper Ant) Notoncus gilberti Notoncus spinisquamis Odontomachus sp (Trap-jaw Ant) Oecophylla smaragdina (Green Tree Ant) Opisthopsis rufithorax Polyrhachis Pseudoneoponera sublaevis Rhytidoponera aspera Rhytidoponera metallica (Green-head Ant)

InsectsInsects Life Cycle… Bees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera Moths Neuroptera Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub