Ants in the genus Odontomachus Roger 1861 are characterized by elongated mandibles which can be cocked open, then slammed shut at extremely high speeds (among the highest self-propelled animal strikes ever recorded) for both prey capture and defense. Within the genus there is considerable variation in size, shape and proportions of both the animals and their trap-jaws, but little is known about the variation in trap-jaw use in the different species. We performed behavioral trials comparing the responses of five species of this genus (O. bauri, O. erythrocephalus, O. brunneus, O. haematodus, and O. chelifer) to harmless prey, dangerous prey, potential predators, and potential competitors. Significant variation in trap-jaw usage was seen between species in both the use of trap-jaw strikes and in the post-strike behaviors of the ants.