Odontomachus

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)

Identification Keys

 * Key to US Odontomachus species

Species richness
Species richness by country based on regional taxon lists (countries with darker colours are more species-rich). View Data



Nomenclature

 *  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.