Odontomachus

Odontomachus workers are commonly encountered foraging on the surface of the ground both during the day and at night. They will also forage on low vegetation and on tree trunks. Workers are generalist predators on small invertebrates, hunting singly and capturing prey with their elongate trap-like jaws. Nests are usually small and found primarily in soil, either in the open or under objects, but also occasionally in rotten wood on the ground. When disturbed, some species will jump backwards several centimetres by snapping their mandibles downwards against the ground.



Worker of O. ruficeps from Queensland.

Identification
When viewed from the front, the outer surface of the head is complex, with narrow sections above and below bulging convexities which contain the eyes. The mandibles are long and straight, inserted in the middle of the front margin of the head, and generally have only 2 or 3 large teeth near the tips (although they sometimes have small teeth along the inner margins which are much smaller than the teeth at the tips). The top of the head has a pair of dark V-shaped lines (apophyseal lines) which converge to form a distinct, sometimes shallow groove on the upper part of the front of the head.

These ants are immediately recognisable by the characteristic shape of the head and mandibles. They are most likely to be confused with species of Anochetus but differ in being larger in overall length, in having the upper surface of the head with distinct dark lines and a central groove, in having the gaster smooth and without a constriction between the first and second segments and in having the upper surface of the petiole with a single spine rather than being rounded or with a pair of small teeth.

Distribution and Habitats
Australian distribution

Regional Species Lists

 * Australia

Keys to Species

 * Australia