Hobbies And Interests
Habitat
The trap-jaw ant -- also known as Odontomachus bauri -- is found in warm climates, specifically tropical and subtropical locations. This includes places like Central America, South America, Africa and Australia. They prefer to live in dark areas, especially under pieces of dead wood or the forest floor. Its colonies reach sizes of approximately 200 ants.
Jaws
An analysis of the trap-jaw ant's mandibles demonstrates where it gets its name. According to "UC Berkeley News," the insect's jaws are "arguably more impressive than such noteworthy contenders as the great white shark and the spotted hyena." The ants' jaws close at a speed between 75 and 145 miles per hour, "the fastest self-powered predatory strike in the animal kingdom." Biologist Sheila Patek explains the force that drives these powerful mandibles. She explains that the muscles in the ant's head are designed like latches. The stored energy in these latches releases a massive amount of power and speed in the same fashion that a crossbow fires an arrow. This allows the jaws to accelerate 100,000 times stronger than gravity, while generating power 300 times its body weight.
Jumping
The trap-jaw ant's jaws provide another benefit besides raw killing power. The force generated from the mandibles gives these insects the ability to jump significant distances. The trap-jaw can launch itself up to 15.5 inches horizontally and achieve heights of 3.2 inches. This is comparable to a 5-foot, 6-inch-tall human jumping 44 feet in the air and flying for 132 feet. This is particularly useful if an ant needs to escape an enemy. It simply hits its jaws against the ground to catapult itself away. The only drawback of this ability is that the ant has no control over its trajectory.
Diet and Hunting
The trap-jaw ant's diet consists of other insects, such as grasshoppers. The animal also enjoys sweet foods that humans may leave out in the open. It uses its powerful jaws to strike its prey. However, when the jaws strike, the ant cannot help flying directly over the victim. Still, the attack cripples the prey so that the ant can quickly return and finish it off.