Impurest's Guide to Animals #67 - Trapjaw Ant

It’s a Trap!! Okay so I missed Star Wars Day, but that doesn't mean I can't quote some classic Ackbar. And that quote is so fitting for this week’s animal. Yes I could mention last weeks animal Balaur bondoc, oh I just did, oh well I hope you enjoy this issue. ___________________________________________________________________

Issue #67 - Trapjaw Ant

Kingdom – Animalia

Phylum – Arthropoda

Class – Insecta

Order – Hymanoptera

Family – Formicidae

Genus – Odontomachus

Species – bauri

Related Species - The Trap-jaw Ant is one of 69 species of carnivorous ants in the genus Odontomachus (1)

Range

Trapped!!

The Trap-Jaw Ant, is a large (about 3cm in length) black ant, with a large head supporting a pair of mandibles with a width of about 6mm. These jaws are held in place by a latch called the clyperus. Held like this, the jaws store potential energy that when released, closes the jaws at a speed of 230-kmph, with the jaws taking less than 300 milliseconds to fully close (2). By angling their jaws downwards, the trap-jaw ant can catapult itself backwards, to a distance of up to 40cm, to escape predation.

These jaws are used to deadly effect while hunting, with the worker ants hunting a range of small invertebrates. While most prey was soft bodied, the remains of termites that use chemical defences have been found in trap-jaw ant nests, suggesting that the species is immune to the acid produced by their prey. In defence the Trap-jaw ant stings and sprays formic acid, with the effects of the venom lasting for up to a week in humans (3).

Like most ant species, the trap-jaw ant has a single member of the breeding caste, the Queen, serviced by an army of workers. While only around two hundred individuals are found per nest, there may be several related colonies in the area all of whom will co-operate in defence of the area. Individuals from related colonies can be recognised by a chemical called dichloromethane, which will differ between animals from different colonies.

Five Fun Trap-jaw Ant Facts

While the genus Odontomachus may be the most well known group of ants with large hair-trigger jaws, but at least three other ant genus have this feature.

Trap-jaw Ants are so well defended, that the Jumping SpiderEnoplomischus mimics members from the genus Odontomachus

When closing its jaws, the Trap-jaw Ant exerts pressure of 300 times its own weight

As large as the jaws of Odontomachus is the male Warrior Wasp (Megalara garuda) has a jaw span longer than its legs. These jaws are used to defend the females nest in return for breeding rights (4)

As deadly as the Trap-jaw Ant is, another ant species Allomerus decemarticulatus creates a network of pits in tree bark, which are used to trap the legs of prey, allowing the ants to swarm their trapped prey.

Bibliography

1 - www.arkive.org

2 - Patek SN, Baio JE, Fisher BL, Suarez AV (22 August 2006). "Multifunctionality and mechanical origins: Ballistic jaw propulsion in trap-jaw ants". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences103 (34): 12787–12792

3 - Rodriquez-Acosta, A.; Reyes-Lugo, M. (2002). "Severe human urticaria produced by ant (Odontomachus bauri, Emery 1892) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) venom". International Journal of Dermatology: 801–8803

4 - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2029913/Warrior-wasp-discovered-jungle-jaws-longer-legs.html

Picture References

1 - http://m0.i.pbase.com/o6/44/660044/1/144565200.MJcfJpc6._MG_9682Edit.jpg

2 - http://www.discoverlife.org/nh/maps/Insecta/Hymenoptera/Formicidae/Odontomachus/map_of_Odontomachus_bauri.jpg

3 - http://krungkuene.org/imgant/pic/odonttwo.jpg

4 - http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/08/25/article-2029913-0D90688E00000578-1_634x381.jpg

And there we have it, a trap in more ways then one. And while the trap-jaw ant doesn't try to hide the fact it’s a monstrosity, unlike next weeks animal, a deadly predator that hides behind its adorable exterior. But until then critic, comment and suggest future issues as well as making sure you check past issues in Impurest’s Bestiary

Many Thanks

Impurest Cheese

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It's a TRAP!!

I hope one doesn't pinch me

@hylian: The jaws are relatively harmless to humans, it's the sting you have to worry about. About 16% of victims end up with their eyelids swelling up for about a fortnight

@impurestcheese: I've been hurt by things that are supposed to be harmless

Awesome stuff, keep up the good work.

And they look scary >_>

Ants are rad.

@claymore1998: Thanks, and yeah ants are quite menacing when up close

@hylian:As I said its the sting you have to worry about

@thetruebarryallen: Yep they are

@impurestcheese: We must burn them all

@hylian: Then what will the anteaters feed on?

@impurestcheese: It'll...... IT'S SO ADORABLE!!!!

@hylian: Thought you might say that

@impurestcheese: It'll become a vegitarian...

@cattlebattle: Do I even want to know what is that?

@hylian:Uh okay

Its a figure from the old He-Man toy line called Trapjaw.

@cattlebattle: Ah okay, He-Man was never really big where I grew up

@impurestcheese: Vegan for life :D

@hylian: Right, I'll just remain on my Insect diet

It must have been a terrible place to grow up ;P

@cattlebattle: Nah I played outdoors

I would hope so.....unless you grew up on a submarine, or a helicopter, it would be kind of hard then.

OMG. OMG. OMG. Ants! Eee!!

Yours truly, Frosty

@cattlebattle: Mostly military bases

@dboyrules2011: Yes ANTS ha ha ha ha ha ha

@impurestcheese: I was expecting something more violent, guess ants will work. >_o

Yours truly, Frosty

@impurestcheese: Ant-Man's greatest ally?

@ostyo: Nope that would be the Driver Ant, a two inch long cog in a 100m long convoy of devastation. Anything smaller than a fair sized rat is fair game for this migratory train of terror. Oh and each ant will keep biting its prey even after it has been decapitated

@dboyrules2011:Trust me ant's are very violent

@impurestcheese: Oh, really? How violent can they be?

Yours truly, Frosty

Yes, they have outdoors at those things.

@cattlebattle: Yep there is, not a lot of places to play admittedly but lots of insects to chase and people to annoy

@dboyrules2011:Well they practice slavery, strip-mine resources, attack things as large as rats in massive swarms, are experts in chemical warfare and invade peoples houses pushing the human occupants out. In essence they are stupidly aggressive

@impurestcheese: Whoa.

Yours truly, Frosty

@impurestcheese said:

@hylian: Then what will the anteaters feed on?

what is that thing!?

@dboyrules2011: Yeah not so insignificant now are they.

Oh they also practice agriculture

@themongoose: That's a silky anteater

@impurestcheese: No. *hides* Hehe no way. >_>

Yours truly, Frosty

@impurestcheese: The unstoppable Ant-Man. :0

@dboyrules2011: They'll find you they always do

@ostyo: In a sense yes

@impurestcheese: Too bad he's no match for Raid Man.

@ostyo: True, then again ants outnumber people a million to one

@impurestcheese: Don't say that! You're scaring me!

Yours truly, Frosty

@dboyrules2011: The Ants are coming...

@impurestcheese: I... I... I... have to get prepared then! *gets spray ready*

Yours truly, Frosty

@impurestcheese: Never tell Raid Man the odds!

@dboyrules2011: Meh just throw some jam on the floor. The majority of the Order Hymanoptera is powered by/obsessed with sugar in their adult forms

@ostyo: Alas Raid Can Man was eaten alive last September by the unstoppable Argentine Ant, an insect so annoying it's considered an invasive species in its own natural range

@impurestcheese: Hehe that's true. Thanks. ^_^

Yours truly, Frosty

@impurestcheese: Hydramethylnon Girl to the rescue!

@dboyrules2011: No problem

@ostyo:You wish