Odontomachus

Odontomachus Temporal range: 20.0–0 Ma K Pa Eo Ol Mi Pl Early Miocene – Recent
Odontomachus haematodus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Ponerinae
Tribe:	Ponerini
Alliance:	Odontomachus genus group
Genus:	Odontomachus Latreille, 1804
Type species
Formica haematodus, now Odontomachus haematodus
Diversity
77 species 3 fossil species (Species Checklist, Species by Country) Odontomachus haematodus Specimen Label
Synonyms
Champsomyrmex Emery, 1892 Myrtoteras Matsumura, 1912 Pedetes Bernstein, 1861

Seen up close, a large Odontomachus worker moving slowly across the leaf litter in a dipterocarp forest in the Philippines (or elsewhere) is spectacular. The bizarre head of species of this genus bears strong jaw-muscles, and large, elongate trap-jaws which are carried sideways when foraging, ready to snap shut as potential prey comes in touch with the long frontal trigger hairs. A powerful stinger at the apex of the abdomen completes the image. These ants resemble nothing so much as small alligators lost among the dimensions of the litter. (Sorger and Zettel 2011)

At a Glance

• Trap-Jaw  • Jumping ants

Photo Gallery

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  Photo by Piotr Naskrecki.
• 

  Photo by Piotr Naskrecki.
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  Male ants often look little like their sisters. This is an Odontomachus sp. trap-jaw ant. Cambodia (Laboratory colony at the University of Illinois). Photo by Alex Wild.
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  Male ants are specialized for mating and dispersal and often appear vastly different from their sisters. The little winged insect at center is a male Odontomachus sp. trap-jaw ant; the rest are female workers. Cambodia (Laboratory colony at the University of Illinois). Photo by Alex Wild.
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  Worker from Dominican amber.

Identification

Schmidt and Shattuck (2014) - Workers of Odontomachus are so distinctive that they are difficult to confuse with those of any other genus except Anochetus, the sister genus of Odontomachus. The unusual trap mandibles and head shape of Odontomachus are synapomorphic with Anochetus, but the genera are readily differentiated by examination of the posterior face of the head. In Odontomachus the nuchal carina is V-shaped medially, and the posterior surface of the head has a pair of dark converging apophyseal lines. In Anochetus the nuchal carina is continuously curved and the posterior surface of the head lacks visible apophyseal lines. These genera also tend to differ in size (Anochetus are generally smaller, though there is some overlap), propodeal teeth (absent in Odontomachus but usually present in Anochetus), and petiole shape (always coniform in Odontomachus, but variable in Anochetus).

Odontomachus species groups

See images of species within this genus

Keys including this Genus

• Key to African and Malagasy Genera of Ponerinae
• Key to Australian Genera of Ponerinae
• Key to Eurasian and Australian Genera of Ponerinae
• Key to Neotropical Ponerinae genera
• Key to New World Genera of Ponerinae
• Key to North American Genera of Ponerinae (Fisher and Cover)
• Key to North American Genera of Ponerinae (Schmidt and Shattuck)
• Key to Vietnamese Ponerinae Genera
• Key to the Ant Genera of New Mexico

 

Keys to Species in this Genus

• Key to Australian Odontomachus Species
• Key to US Odontomachus species
• Key to Odontomachus of the Malagasy region
• Key to Odontomachus of the New World
• Key to Odonotomachus of the Indo-Australian Region
• Key to Philippine Odontomachus
• Key to Afrotropical Odontomachus species
• Key to Odontomachus workers of Sumatra
• Key to Odontomachus males of Sumatra
• Key to Odontomachus of China
• Key to Odontomachus infandus species group

Distribution

Schmidt and Shattuck (2014) - Odontomachus is abundant in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, though it is most diverse in the Asian tropics and the Neotropics. Australia boasts a handful of species, while Africa has two species (Odontomachus assiniensis and Odontomachus troglodytes) and the Malagasy region has three species (Odontomachus coquereli, Odontomachus troglodytes, and Odontomachus simillimus, the latter apparently introduced to the Seychelles; Fisher & Smith, 2008). A few species extend into temperate regions, notably in the southwestern United States, northeastern China, central Argentina, and southwestern Australia (reviewed in Brown, 1976).

Species by Region

Number of species within biogeographic regions, along with the total number of species for each region.

	Afrotropical Region	Australasian Region	Indo-Australian Region	Malagasy Region	Nearctic Region	Neotropical Region	Oriental Region	Palaearctic Region
Species	3	4	34	2	6	27	6	11
Total Species	2841	1736	3045	932	835	4379	1741	2862

Fossils

Fossils are known from: Dominican amber, Dominican Republic (Burdigalian, Early Miocene), Most Formation, Czech Republic (Burdigalian, Early Miocene), Zhangpu amber, Zhangpu County, Fujian Province, China (Miocene) (an unidentified species, Wang et al., 2021).

Biology

Hita Garcia, Wiesel and Fischer (2013) - Mainly tropical and subtropical in its distribution but some species can also be found in temperate zones or even in semi-desert areas (Brown, 1976). The more than 70 species are roughly equally split between the New and the Old World. Species of Odontomachus are large, often conspicuous ants that are mainly predaceous (Brown, 1976; Fisher & Smith, 2008). Like Anochetus, they are trap-jaw ants and can also use these specialised mandibles to jump away if they feel disturbed (Brown, 1976). They hunt other arthropods, often termites, but a few also tend hemipterans. They generally nest in the soil, the leaf litter, or in rotten logs while few species live arboreally (Brown, 1976)

Schmidt and Shattuck (2014) - In most respects Odontomachus are fairly typical ponerines. The nesting habits of many species have been observed, and most of these nest in soil or rotting wood (e.g., Odontomachus affinis: Brandão, 1983; Odontomachus bauri: Ehmer & Hölldobler, 1995; Odontomachus brunneus, Odontomachus clarus, Odontomachus relictus, and Odontomachus ruginodis: Deyrup & Cover, 2004; Odontomachus cephalotes: Wilson, 1959b; Odontomachus chelifer: Fowler, 1980; Passos & Oliveira, 2004; Odontomachus coquereli: Molet et al., 2007; Odontomachus erythrocephalus: Longino, 2013; Odontomachus opaciventris: de la Mora et al., 2007; Odontomachus rixosus: Ito et al., 1996; Odontomachus simillimus: Wilson, 1959b; van Walsum et al., 1998; Odontomachus tyrannicus: Wilson, 1959b), though some species will nest in more unusual locations such as in abandoned termite nests (Déjean et al., 1996, 1997) or arboreally (e.g., Odontomachus troglodytes: Colombel, 1972; O. brunneus, Odontomachus hastatus, and Odontomachus mayi; Brown, 1976; O. bauri and O. hastatus: Longino, 2013). The nests of O. bauri are apparently polydomous (Ehmer & Hölldobler, 1995). Odontomachus workers are monomorphic and are epigeic foragers, and some species are at least partially arboreal in their habits (Brown, 1976; Longino, 2013). Most species are generalist predators of arthopods, though many species partially specialize on certain types of prey, especially termites (e.g., Fowler, 1980; Lévieux, 1982; Ehmer & Hölldobler, 1995). At least some species will also tend honeydew-secreting insects or visit extrafloral nectaries (e.g., O. affinis: Borgmeier, 1920; O. bauri, O. hastatus, and Odontomachus panamensis: Schemske, 1982; Longino, 2013; O. troglodytes: Evans & Leston, 1971; Lachaud & Déjean, 1991a), and the Neotropical species O. chelifer is known to eat fruit and the arils of certain seeds, which the ants ultimately disperse (Pizo & Oliveira, 1998; Passos & Oliveira, 2002, 2004). Odontomachus laticeps and Odontomachus minutus (=Odontomachus meinerti) also collect seeds with nutritious arils (Horvitz & Beattie, 1980; Horvitz, 1981). [[Odontomachus malignus'' is notable for its habit of foraging among corals at low tide (Wilson, 1959b). Foraging workers of O. bauri navigate using visual cues from the forest canopy overhead as well as chemical cues (Oliveira & Hölldobler, 1989). Recruitment of nestmates via tandem running was observed in O. troglodytes (Lachaud & Déjean, 1991a).

Colony size is highly variable across the genus, ranging from an average of only 18 workers in O. coquereli (Molet et al., 2007) to as many as 10,000 workers in O. opaciventris (de la Mora et al., 2007). Most species seem to have colony sizes of several hundred workers: O. chelifer colonies average between 100 to 650 workers (Fowler, 1980; Passos & Oliveira, 2004), colonies of O. rixosus had an average of 142 workers (Ito et al., 1996), and O. bauri is reported to have up to 300 workers per colony (Jaffe & Marcuse, 1983), though O. troglodytes colonies can have over 1,000 workers (Colombel, 1970a).

Most species of Odontomachus have typical winged queens and semi-claustral nest founding (Brown, 1976), though O. coquereli has wingless ergatoid queens and colonies apparently reproduce by division (Molet et al., 2007). An undescribed species from Malaysia is also reported to have ergatoid queens (Gobin et al., 2006), and colony reproduction by fission is suspected to occur in some other species (Brown, 1976). While some Odontomachus species are likely to be monogynous, many species are polygynous (e.g., Odontomachus assiniensis: Ledoux, 1952; O. cephalotes: Peeters, 1987; O. chelifer: Medeiros et al., 1992; O. rixosus: Ito et al., 1996; Odontomachus troglodytes: Ledoux, 1952). Queens of O. rixosus perform many of the tasks more typical of the worker caste, including foraging outside the nest (Ito et al., 1996). In the most detailed series of studies on a single Odontomachus species, Colombel examined various aspects of the behavior of O. troglodytes, including caste determination (Colombel, 1978), egg development (Colombel, 1974) reproduction by workers (Colombel, 1972), ecology, nest structure, demographics and population dynamics (Colombel, 1970a), egg-laying by queens (Colombel, 1970b), and alarm pheromones (Colombel, 1968). The laying of haploid eggs by workers has also been observed in O. chelifer (Medeiros et al., 1992), O. rixosus (Ito et al., 1996), and O. simillimus (van Walsum et al., 1998). Wheeler et al. (1999) examined the egg proteins of O. chelifer and O. clarus.

Only a handful of papers have been published on the social behavior of Odontomachus. Polyethism in Odontomachus troglodytes was studied by Déjean & Lachaud (1991), while division of labor in Odontomachus affinis was examined by Brandão (1983). Powell & Tschinkel (1999) discovered that the workers of Odontomachus brunneus organize themselves into a social hierarchy via ritualized dominance interactions, with repercussions for task specialization within the nest. Whether similar heirarchies exist among workers in other Odontomachus species is unknown, though dominance heirarchies exist among queens in colonies of the polygynous species Odontomachus chelifer (Medeiros et al., 1992). Jaffe & Marcuse (1983) observed both nestmate recognition and territorial aggression in Odontomachus bauri. Aspects of the mating behavior of Odontomachus assiniensis, the other African Odontomachus species, were studied by Ledoux (1952).

Wheeler & Blum (1973) identified the mandibular glands as the source of alarm pheromones in O. brunneus, O. clarus and O. hastatus. Morgan et al. (1999) examined the mandibular gland secretions of O. bauri, while Longhurst et al. (1978) studied the mandibular gland secretions of O. troglodytes and the response of males to these secretions. Oliveira & Hölldobler (1989) identified the roles of pygidial, mandibular and poison gland secretions in O. bauri for recruitment, alarm and attack behaviors. Alarmed Odontomachus workers can also stridulate (e.g. Carlin & Gladstein, 1989).

The trap-jaw mandibles and associated behaviors of Odontomachus (and Anochetus) rank among the most specialized of any ponerine. When hunting, Odontomachus workers hold their highly modified mandibles open at 180° and shut them with extreme force and speed on their prey. In fact, this is the fastest movement ever measured in any animal (Patek et al., 2006; Spagna et al., 2008). The contact of trigger setae (located beneath the mandibles) with the prey triggers the mandibular closure. The morphological, physiological and neurological characteristics of trap mandibles (and associated structures and behaviors) have been extensively studied (e.g., Gronenberg et al., 1993; Gronenberg & Tautz, 1994; Gronenberg, 1995a, 1995b; Ehmer & Gronenberg, 1997; Just & Gronenberg, 1999; Paul & Gronenberg, 1999; Spagna et al., 2008). Kinematic data indicate that the force of jaw closure in Odontomachus scales positively with body size, while acceleration scales inversely with body size (Spagna et al., 2008). The significance of these scaling relationships for the optimal foraging strategy in a given species is unknown.

The sequence of actions taken during prey capture by a hunting Odontomachus worker was summarized by de la Mora et al. (2007). Upon detection of a suitable prey item, the worker antennates it, then withdraws the antennae and snaps its mandibles shut on the prey. Generally the prey are held in the mandibles, lifted off the substrate, stung, and then transported back to the nest, though sometimes stinging is not necessary (Brown, 1976). The exact behavioral sequence used during prey capture varies somewhat depending on the Odontomachus species and the identity of the prey. For example, multiple mandibular strikes may be used to stun or dismember the prey. Odontomachus workers are often cautious during prey capture, especially with potentially dangerous prey such as termites. De la Mora et al. (2007) describe the predatory behavior of Odontomachus opaciventris in detail; the foraging behaviors of several other Odontomachus species have been described by other authors (e.g., Odontomachus assiniensis: Ledoux, 1952; Odontomachus bauri: Jaffe & Marcuse, 1983; O. chelifer: Fowler, 1980; Odontomachus troglodytes: Déjean, 1982, 1987; Déjean & Bashingwa, 1985). Déjean (1987) found that workers of O. troglodytes learn to avoid noxious prey.

Rapid mandibular strikes are used by Odontomachus to perform a variety of specialized tasks in addition to prey capture. Patek et al. (2006) found that workers of O. bauri utilize the force of their mandible strikes to bounce to safety (or to bounce onto intruders), and also to eject intruders away. This latter behavior (the bouncer defense) was studied in detail in O. ruginodis by Carlin & Gladstein (1989). In addition to these highly specialized tasks, the mandibles of Odontomachus remain functional for more typical activities such as nest construction and brood care (Just & Gronenberg, 1999).

Association with Other Organisms

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Species Uncertain

• An unknown species is a host for the eucharitid wasp Kapala sp. (a parasite) (Universal Chalcidoidea Database) (associate).
• An unknown species is a host for the fungus Cordyceps morakotii (a pathogen) (Shrestha et al., 2017).
• An unknown species is a host for the phorid fly Dohrniphora longirostrata (a parasite) (Brown et al. 2015).
• An unknown species is a prey for the phorid fly Dohrniphora longirostrata (a predator) (Quevillon, 2018).

All Associate Records for Genus

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Taxon	Relationship	Associate Type	Associate Taxon	Associate Relationship	Locality	Source	Notes
Odontomachus	host	eucharitid wasp	Kapala sp.	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	associate
Odontomachus	host	fungus	Cordyceps morakotii	pathogen		Shrestha et al., 2017
Odontomachus	host	phorid fly	Dohrniphora longirostrata	parasite		Brown et al. 2015
Odontomachus	prey	phorid fly	Dohrniphora longirostrata	predator		Quevillon, 2018
Odontomachus affinis	associate (details unknown)	phorid fly	Lenkoa aurita	associate (details unknown)		Quevillon, 2018
Odontomachus bauri	host	eucharitid wasp	Kapala sp.	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Odontomachus bauri	host	phorid fly	Apocephalus atrimarginatus	parasite		Brown et al., 2015	injured
Odontomachus bauri	host	phorid fly	Apocephalus barbiventris	parasite		Brown et al., 2015	injured
Odontomachus bauri	host	phorid fly	Apocephalus barbiventris	parasite		phorid.net	attacked
Odontomachus bauri	host	phorid fly	Apocephalus catholicus	parasite		Brown et al., 2015	injured
Odontomachus bauri	host	phorid fly	Apocephalus catholicus	parasite		phorid.net	attacked
Odontomachus bauri	host	phorid fly	Megaselia sp.	parasite		Brown et al., 2015	injured
Odontomachus bauri	host	phorid fly	Megaselia sp.	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Odontomachus brunneus	host	eucharitid wasp	Kapala sp.	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Odontomachus chelifer	host	eucharitid wasp	Latina rugosa	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	associate, primary host
Odontomachus chelifer	host	nematode	Mermithidae (unspecified "Mermix")	parasite	Neotropics	Wheeler, 1928; Laciny, 2021
Odontomachus chelifer	host	phorid fly	Apocephalus catholicus	parasite		Brown et al., 2015	injured
Odontomachus chelifer	host	phorid fly	Apocephalus catholicus	parasite		phorid.net	attacked
Odontomachus chelifer	host	phorid fly	Apocephalus paldiae	parasite		Brown et al., 2015	injured
Odontomachus chelifer	host	phorid fly	Apocephalus paldiae	parasite		phorid.net	attacked
Odontomachus chelifer	host	phorid fly	Dohrniphora sp. (not D. longi-gp)	parasite		Brown et al., 2015	injured
Odontomachus chelifer	prey	phorid fly	Dohrniphora sp.	predator		Quevillon, 2018
Odontomachus haematodus	host	eucharitid wasp	Chalcura deprivata	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	primary host
Odontomachus haematodus	host	eucharitid wasp	Kapala sp.	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Odontomachus haematodus	host	eucharitid wasp	Kapala terminalis	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	primary host
Odontomachus haematodus	host	eucharitid wasp	Schizaspidia convergens	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	primary host
Odontomachus haematodus	host	nematode	Mermithidae (unspecified "Mermix")	parasite	Neotropics	Wheeler, 1928; Laciny, 2021
Odontomachus haematodus	host	phorid fly	Apocephalus lopesi	parasite		Brown et al., 2015	injured
Odontomachus haematodus	host	phorid fly	Apocephalus lopesi	parasite		phorid.net	attacked
Odontomachus haematodus	host	phorid fly	Dohrniphora sp. (longi-gp_females	parasite		Brown et al., 2015	injured
Odontomachus haematodus	prey	phorid fly	Dohrniphora longirostrata	predator		Quevillon, 2018
Odontomachus haematodus	prey	phorid fly	Dohrniphora sp.	predator		Quevillon, 2018
Odontomachus hastatus	host	eucharitid wasp	Kapala sp.	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Odontomachus hastatus	host	fungus	Ophiocordyceps australis	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Odontomachus hastatus	host	nematode	Agamomermis costaricensis	parasite	Costa Rica	Poinar et al., 2006
Odontomachus hastatus	host	phorid fly	Apocephalus catholicus	parasite		Brown et al., 2015	injured
Odontomachus hastatus	host	phorid fly	Apocephalus catholicus	parasite		phorid.net	attacked
Odontomachus insularis	host	eucharitid wasp	Kapala sp.	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Odontomachus insularis	host	eucharitid wasp	Kapala terminalis	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	primary host
Odontomachus laticeps	host	eucharitid wasp	Kapala sp.	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Odontomachus laticeps	host	phorid fly	Apocephalus atrimarginatus	parasite		Brown et al., 2015	injured
Odontomachus laticeps	host	phorid fly	Apocephalus catholicus	parasite		Brown et al., 2015	injured
Odontomachus laticeps	host	phorid fly	Apocephalus catholicus	parasite		phorid.net	attacked
Odontomachus laticeps	host	phorid fly	Apocephalus comosus	parasite		Brown et al., 2015	injured
Odontomachus laticeps	host	phorid fly	Megaselia sp.	parasite		Brown et al., 2015	injured
Odontomachus laticeps	host	phorid fly	Megaselia sp.	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Odontomachus laticeps	host	phorid fly	Myriophora sp.	parasite		Brown et al., 2015	injured
Odontomachus mayi	host	eucharitid wasp	Kapala sp.	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Odontomachus meinerti	host	eucharitid wasp	Kapala sp.	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Odontomachus mormo	host	phorid fly	Dohrniphora sp (longi-gp_females	parasite		Brown et al., 2015	injured
Odontomachus mormo	prey	phorid fly	Dohrniphora apharea	predator		Quevillon, 2018
Odontomachus mormo	prey	phorid fly	Dohrniphora sp.	predator		Quevillon, 2018
Odontomachus opaciventris	host	eucharitid wasp	Kapala sp.	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Odontomachus panamensis	xenobiont	ant	Crematogaster carinata	xenobiont
Odontomachus rixosus	host	eucharitid wasp	Schizaspidia nasua	parasite		Heraty et al., 2015; Universal Chalcidoidea Database	primary host
Odontomachus rixosus	host	phorid fly	Stethopathusa corporaali	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Odontomachus ruficeps	host	eucharitid wasp	Chalcura affinis	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	primary host
Odontomachus simillimus	associate (details unknown)	phorid fly	Woodiphora pallidinervis	associate (details unknown)		Quevillon, 2018
Odontomachus simillimus	host	phorid fly	Megaselia pagei	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Odontomachus troglodytes	host	eucharitid wasp	Ancylotropus sp.	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest

Flight Period

All Flight Records for Genus

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Taxon	Month	Source	Notes
Odontomachus bauri	Jan • Feb • Mar • Apr • May • Jun • Jul • Aug • Sep • Oct • Nov • Dec	Kaspari et al., 2001
Odontomachus clarus	Jun • Jul	antkeeping.info
Odontomachus simillimus	Feb	antkeeping.info

Life History Traits

• Mean colony size: 18-10000 (Greer et al., 2021)
• Compound colony type: not parasitic (Greer et al., 2021)
• Nest site: hypogaeic; arboreal (Greer et al., 2021)
• Diet class: predator (Greer et al., 2021)
• Foraging stratum: subterranean/leaf litter; arboreal (Greer et al., 2021)
• Foraging behaviour: cooperative (Greer et al., 2021)

Morphology

Worker Morphology

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• Antennal segment count: 12 • Antennal club: absent • Palp formula: 4,4; 4,3 • Total dental count: 3-20 • Spur formula: 2 (1 simple, 1 pectinate), 2 (1 simple, 1 pectinate) • Eyes: >100 ommatidia • Scrobes: absent • Pronotal Spines: absent • Mesonotal Spines: absent • Propodeal Spines: absent • Petiolar Spines: present • Caste: none or weak • Sting: present • Metaplural Gland: present • Cocoon: present

Male Morphology

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 • Antennal segment count 13 • Antennal club 0 • Palp formula 6,4; 5,3 • Total dental count 0 • Spur formula 2 (1 simple, 1 pectinate), 2 (1 simple, 1 pectinate)

Karyotype

Species Uncertain

• Odontomachus sp.(ANIC-1): n = 22, 2n = 44, karyotype = 4AM + 40A (Australia) (Imai et al., 1977; Mariano et al., 2015).
• Odontomachus sp.1: n = 22, 2n = 44 (Malaysia) (Goni et al., 1982; Mariano et al., 2015).
• Odontomachus sp.2: n = 15, 2n = 30 + 1B (Malaysia) (Goni et al., 1982; Mariano et al., 2015) (polymorphic).
• Odontomachus sp.3: n = 22, 2n = 44 (Malaysia) (Goni et al., 1982; Mariano et al., 2015).
• n = 22, 2n = 44, karyotype = 44A (Brazil) (Mariano et al., 2015).

All Karyotype Records for Genus

• See additional details at the Ant Chromosome Database.

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Taxon	Haploid	Diploid	Karyotype	Locality	Source	Notes
Odontomachus	15	30		Malaysia	Goni et al., 1982; Mariano et al., 2015	polymorphic
Odontomachus	22	44		Malaysia	Goni et al., 1982; Mariano et al., 2015
Odontomachus	22	44	44A	Brazil	Mariano et al., 2015
Odontomachus	22	44	4AM + 40A	Australia	Imai et al., 1977; Mariano et al., 2015
Odontomachus affinis	22	44	44A	Brazil	Santos et al., 2009; Mariano et al., 2015
Odontomachus bauri	22	44	44A	Brazil	Santos et al., 2009; Mariano et al., 2015
Odontomachus biumbonatus	22	44	44A	Brazil	Santos et al., 2009; Mariano et al., 2015
Odontomachus chelifer	22	44	4SM+40T (4M + 40A)	Brazil	Santos et al., 2010; Mariano et al., 2015
Odontomachus haematodus	22	44	8SM+18ST+18A (44A)	French Guiana	Santos et al., 2007; Mariano et al., 2015; Aguiar et al., 2020; Teixeira et al., 2020
Odontomachus hastatus	22	44	4SM+2ST+38T (4M + 40A)	French Guiana	Mariano et al., 2011; Mariano et al., 2015
Odontomachus latidens	15	30		Malaysia	Imai et al., 1983; Mariano et al., 2015
Odontomachus latidens	16	32		Indonesia	Imai et al., 1985; Mariano et al., 2015
Odontomachus meinerti	22	44	4SM+6ST+34T (4M + 40A)	Brazil	Santos et al., 2010; Mariano et al., 2015
Odontomachus rixosus	15	30		Malaysia	Goni et al., 1982; Imai et al., 1983; Mariano et al., 2015	B chomosomes 30, 30+1B
Odontomachus scalptus	22	44	2SM+16ST+26T (44A)	French Guiana	Mariano et al., 2011; Mariano et al., 2015
Odontomachus simillimus		44	44A	Sarawak	Tjan et al., 1986; Mariano et al., 2015
Odontomachus simillimus	22	44	44A	Indonesia	Imai et al., 1985; Mariano et al., 2015
Odontomachus simillimus	22	44	44A	Malaysia	Goni et al., 1982; Imai et al., 1983; Mariano et al., 2015

Phylogeny

Ponerinae

Platythyrea  (40 species, 6 fossil species) Pachycondyla group ⊞(show genera) ⊟ Simopelta  (22 species, 0 fossil species) Belonopelta  (2 species, 0 fossil species) Thaumatomyrmex  (13 species, 0 fossil species) Mayaponera  (7 species, 0 fossil species) Rasopone  (15 species, 0 fossil species) Neoponera  (58 species, 1 fossil species) Dinoponera  (8 species, 0 fossil species) Pachycondyla  (17 species, 19 fossil species) Ponera group ⊞(show genera) ⊟ Diacamma  (67 species, 0 fossil species) Emeryopone  (5 species, 0 fossil species) Ponera  (62 species, 5 fossil species) Ectomomyrmex  (31 species, 0 fossil species) Fisheropone hartwigi Austroponera  (3 species, 1 fossil species) Parvaponera  (7 species, 0 fossil species) Pseudoponera  (6 species, 0 fossil species) Harpegnathos  (13 species, 0 fossil species) Hypoponera  (177 species, 1 fossil species) Plectroctena group ⊞(show genera) ⊟ Centromyrmex  (17 species, 0 fossil species) Psalidomyrmex  (6 species, 0 fossil species) Loboponera  (9 species, 0 fossil species) Boloponera  (2 species, 0 fossil species) Plectroctena  (16 species, 0 fossil species) Odontomachus group ⊞(show taxa) ⊟ Asphinctopone  (3 species, 0 fossil species) Leptogenys  (332 species, 1 fossil species) Myopias  (48 species, 0 fossil species) Mesoponera melanaria Bothroponera  (46 species, 0 fossil species) Hagensia  (6 species, 6 fossil species) Buniapone  (2 species, 0 fossil species) Paltothyreus  (7 species, 0 fossil species) Promyopias  (1 species, 0 fossil species) Pseudoneoponera  (29 species, 0 fossil species) Streblognathus  (2 species, 0 fossil species) Brachyponera  (23 species, 0 fossil species) Cryptopone gilva, Cryptopone testacea Euponera  (26 species, 0 fossil species) Fisheropone ambigua Phrynoponera  (5 species, 0 fossil species) Anochetus  (115 species, 9 fossil species) Odontomachus  (77 species, 3 fossil species) Megaponera  (6 species, 0 fossil species) Ophthalmopone  (6 species, 0 fossil species) Mesoponera ambigua Odontoponera  (4 species, 1 fossil species)

See Phylogeny of Ponerinae for details.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

• ODONTOMACHUS [Ponerinae: Ponerini]
  • Odontomachus Latreille, 1804: 179. Type-species: Formica haematoda, by monotypy.
  • Odontomachus senior synonym of Pedetes: Dalla Torre, 1893: 51.
  • Odontomachus senior synonym of Champsomyrmex, Myrtoteras: Brown, 1976a: 67.
• CHAMPSOMYRMEX [junior synonym of Odontomachus]
  • Champsomyrmex Emery, 1892d: 558 (footnote). Type-species: Odontomachus coquereli, by monotypy.
  • Champsomyrmex subgenus of Odontomachus: Forel, 1893a: 163; Forel, 1917: 238.
  • Champsomyrmex as genus: Emery, 1892d: 558 (footnote); Emery, 1911d: 111; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 653.
  • Champsomyrmex junior synonym of Odontomachus; Brown, 1976a: 96.
  • [Thempsomyrmex Forel, 1893a: 163, incorrect subsequent spelling.]
• MYRTOTERAS [junior synonym of Odontomachus]
  • Myrtoteras Matsumura, 1912: 191. Type-species: Myrtoteras kuroiwae, by monotypy.
  • Myrtoteras junior synonym of Odontomachus: Brown, 1976a: 96.
• PEDETES [junior synonym of Odontomachus]
  • Pedetes Bernstein, 1861: 7. Type-species: Pedetes macrorhynchus, by monotypy.
  • Pedetes junior synonym of Odontomachus: Dalla Torre, 1893: 51.

Description

Worker

Schmidt and Shattuck (2014) - Medium to large (TL 6–20 mm; Brown, 1976) slender ants with the standard characters of Ponerini. Mandibles straight and narrow, articulating with the head medially, capable of being held open at 180°, and with a trio of large apical teeth and often a row of smaller teeth along the masticatory margin. Head with a pair of long trigger setae below the mandibles. Clypeus truncate laterally and anteriorly. Frontal lobes small and relatively widely spaced. Head strangely shaped: much longer than wide, with a distinct constriction behind the eyes and then often a gradual broadening posteriorly, the posterior margin of the head straight or mildly concave, the nuchal carina V-shaped medially, the posterior surface of the head with a pair of dark converging apophyseal lines. Eyes fairly large, located anterior of head midline on temporal prominences. Metanotal groove shallowly to deeply impressed. Propodeum broadly rounded dorsally, as broad as mesonotum but narrower than pronotum. Propodeal spiracles small, circular to ovoid. Metatibial spur formula (1s, 1p). Petiole surmounted by a conical node, topped by a posteriorly-directed spine of variable length. Gaster without a girdling constriction between pre- and postsclerites of A4. Stridulitrum almost always present on pretergite of A4. Head and body shiny to lightly striate, with very sparse pilosity and pubescence. Color variable, orange to black.

Queen

Brown (1976) - Like worker, but differing in the characters usual for ponerines; in most species normally alate when virgin. Ocelli present, small, placed near the middle of the dorsum of the head. Head usually relatively broader, mandibles and scapes shorter, petiolar node broader and more compressed axially, than in workers of the same species, and trunk with the usual development of flight sclerites; gaster modestly more voluminous. The overall size difference between queen and corresponding workers is usually not very great, making the queen often hard to spot among the· circulating workers when a nest is newly opened.

Wing venation in both wings of the complete ponerine pattern, without any trace of 1r in forewing, but Mf2 most often present and uncontracted. Anal lobe of hind wing usually present; may be lost in some of the smaller Anochetus species.

Male

Brown (1976) - Typically euponerine in habitus as well as the definitive characters: mandibles reduced, non-opposable; genital capsule not fully retractile; cerci well developed and conspicuous. In fact, I can find no character or combination of characters in this sex that will unequivocally separate Odontomachiti from Poneriti, or even that will separate males of Odontomachus or Anochetus from those of a pone rite genus such as Pachycondyla s. lat. Even the downcurved pygidial spine is shared by males of the more primitive members of both tribes, as well as some species of Platythyrea (Platythyreini).

Odontomachite males are usually told, in my experience, by this generally ponerite habitus and character set, plus the particular shape of the petiolar node, which usually reflects in a more or less muted fashion the shape of the node in the corresponding workers and queens. Thus, the node in Odontomachus males is more or less conical, with a narrowly rounded or even pointed apex; in Anochetus, the male node varies greatly with the species, so that in A. mayri, for example, it is axially compressed and squamiform, with its sharp crest forming two points separated by a deep emargination.

Size varying from 3 or 4 to more than 15 mm total body length, with correspondingly well developed wings. Head broader than long, with half to just about all of the sides of the head occupied by large compound eyes, which usually have weakly emarginate mesal margins in front (dorsal) view, and also weakly emarginate lateral margins as seen from the side. Clypeus small, convex, with convex or nearly straight anterior free margin. Ocelli large, close together, usually situated on an eminence. Mandibles small, narrow, with acute to bluntly rounded apices; at base with a dorsal whitish membranous basin, possibly at least partly the same as Ettershank's (1966) mandallls, which may possibly serve to dispense pheromones during mating flights. Distad, a curved dorsal ridge separates the concave outer face from the mainly convex dorsomedial face of the mandible. One or more stout, tapered, porrect setae issue from near the apex of each mandible.

Labrum small, bilobed, with a median cleft, fitting into the space between the mandibles. Maxillary palpi 6-, 5-, or 4-merous, labial palpi 4- or 3-merous, so far as I have been able to count. Some small Anochetus may possibly have lower counts, such as 3, 2, but I have not confirmed any counts this low.

Antennae always 13-merous, with short, cylindrical scape and still shorter pedicel; flagellar segments beyond pedicel longer and slender cylindrical, arranged so that the antennae usually curve circularly up and then downward in dead specimens, as in most ponerine males.

Trunk rather robust, scutum with notauli forming a distinct, impressed Y in some Anochetus, an indistinct V in others, and a generally very indistinct or obsolete V in Odontomachus.

The unconstricted gaster of most odontomachite workers and queens is usually a feature also of the conspecific males, and we may expect that the gaster of males in such species as A. inca has the constriction between the first and second gastric segments wide and deep, as in the worker of that species.

Pygidium produced as a sharp, slender downcurved spine in all known Odontomachus males and in some Old World species of Anochetus; in other Anochetus, the pygidium has the free margin with a median crease and point, or is entire and rounded. Hypopygium linguiform, with parallel sides and rounded or subtruncate apex in Odontomachus, but variously formed in Anochetus: as a rounded, convex plate; produced as a single setose rod-like piece; produced as paired slender rods; as an emarginate plate, etc.

Genitalia proper much like those of Poneriti, relatively complete and conservative in Odontomachus, but modified in various striking ways in the few Anochetus species available.

Legs slender; tarsal claws slender, with or without a small submedian tooth. Tibial spurs 1, 2, 2 or 1, 1, 1, paralleling their development in workers and queens of the same species.

Pilosity simple and fine, usually rather sparse; pubescence sparse to dense, usually suberect to decumbent.

Head, petiole and gaster usually smooth or nearly so, though often finely and rather densely punctulate. Trunk usually largely rugulose, rugulose-striate, or densely punctulate in Odontomachus, finely and more or less densely punctulate in Anochetus; in both genera the pleural areas are smoother and often more shining than dorsal sclerites.

Color ranging from testaceous to black; in Anochetus, head sometimes much darker than remainder of body; scutum sometimes with a fuscous pattern consisting of a pair of broad longitudinal bands connected in part by a median element.

Yoshimura and Fisher (2007) Malagsy region - Males winged. Antennal scrobe absent. Mandible reduced. Basal cavity of mandible extending to its front face and visible in full-face view. Notauli never impressed on mesoscutum. Mesepimeron bearing distinct (epimeral) lobe posterodorsally, lobe covering mesothoracic spiracle and seeming to form isolated plate. Dorsolateral corner of petiole in anterior view not projecting. Dorsal margin of petiole in anterior view more or less conical, with a narrowly rounded or pointed apex. Apical margin of abdominal tergum VIII projecting into sharp spine. Jugal lobe of hind wing present. Each middle and hind tibia with two spurs. Claws simple, never multidentate to pectinate.

Larva

Brown (1976) - (characterization based on that of G. C. and J. Wheeler, 1971: 1213): Body profile like that of Pachycondyla, i. e., neck long and slender ; head large ; abdomen subovoidal, but with the ventral profile nearly straight; anus ventral. Beset with numerous (80-116) tubercles, but none on midventral surface. A typical tubercle consists of a frustum bearing a circle of 4-6 relatively long, slender hairs that are constricted at the point of attachment; seated on this frustum is a spire that bears at its apex a heavy, straight, spine-like hair; integument of spire with short transverse rows of spinules. On the mid-dorsal surface of abdominal segment IV there is usually one or a pair of modified holdfast tubercles in form ranging from almost flush, glabrous areas to low pulley-like, bulbous, or even nearly doorknob-shaped projections, with a sparse fringe of short hairs. Similar structures may be found also on segment V, or may be lacking there; in O. tyrannicus, the Wheelers (1952: 652) found that the dorsal holdfast tubercles of segments IV and V were replaced by ordinary seta-tipped tubercles like those on the rest of the body.

Head hairs few and short; mouthparts rather large. Mandibles like those of Ectatomma or Odontoponera: moderately broad at base, tapering apicad, and weakly to strongly curved, with an acute apical tooth and a medial blade carrying 2 more teeth; on a part of the anterior surface are a few minute spinules in short, transverse rows.

The available information on the morphology and bionomics of odontomachite larvae is summarized by G. C. and J. Wheeler (1952: 642-652, pl. 5, fig. 1-17, pl. 6, fig. 22-29) and added to by them in 1964: 455-456 and 1971: 1212-1213, fig. 25-26.

In view of the present revision some of the old identifications listed by the Wheelers require correction or amplification:

Anochetus sp., [Mt.] Tobang, Borneo, 1300 m, E. Mjoberg, is A. princeps.

Odontomachus haematoda specimens listed from Costa Rica and Jamaica and figured in Plate 6, fig. 22-29, are very likely O. bauri; the samples from Ceylon that Clausen found parasitized by chalcidoids belonged to O. simillimus, and the specimens mentioned by Eidmann and by Emery could have been haematodus, bauri, or some other species. «Odontomachus haematoda clarus» is O. clarus; the species investigated by Haskins and Haskins is O. brunneus; the Cuban var. pallens is O. insularis, and the var. bruneipes discussed by Eidmann probably was O. bauri. The O. biolleyi larvae described by the Wheelers (1952: 651) should be questioned, because the only adults of this species I know to exist in collections are the types. O. ruficeps coriaria and O. cephalotes of the Wheelers are O. ruticeps, and their O. haematoda insularis is O. brunneus.

The larval characters of the Odontomachiti are in my opinion worth only generic rank within the Ponerini. The tubercle form and the hold fast structures of abdominal segments IV and V are the best characters, but the holdfasts are not universal in the subtribe (O. tyrannicus lacks them), and the form of the ordinary tubercles is not really strikingly different from that of some Pachycondyla (s. lat.) species, or species currently placed in Myopias.

Pupae

Brown (1976) - Normally enclosed in cocoons; I know of no exceptions. The silk is light to dark brown in color in the finished cocoon. As usual for ponerines, the spinning larvae require some sand or loose dirt as a substrate in order to complete the cocoon normally.

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