Identification of Odontomachus species in the southeastern United States

Odontomachus species are easily recognizable by their large size, peculiar head shape, shape and orientation of mandibles, and large tapering petiole.  Members of this genus are commonly called trap-jaw ants due to the ability of an ant to rapidly snap together its mandibles on prey or against a surface with enough control to actually propel itself several centimeters away.  Although 66 described species have been reported worldwide, only four species have been reported from the southeastern United State: O. brunneus (Patton), O. clarus Roger, O. relictus Deyrup and Cover, and O. ruginodis Smith.  We present new records of a South American species, O. haematodus (Linnaeus), for the Southeast and provide an updated identification key to encompass the five described species known to occur here.