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- Title
A Survey of Odontomachus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and Observations of Nesting Preferences in the Commonwealth of Dominica, Lesser Antilles.
- Authors
Graf, Andrew J.; Woolley, James B.
- Abstract
Localities in the Commonwealth of Dominica, an island in the Lesser Antilles, were surveyed for Odontomachus spp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in June 2015. Odontomachus ants, commonly known as trap-jaw ants, have elongated mandibles which they use for capturing prey. Some species within the genus are invasive in the United States, however, little is known about their biology or nesting preferences in the Commonwealth of Dominica. Specimens were collected in nest series and details nesting locality, substrate, and co-habitation with termites (Blattodea: Termitidae) and other formicids were recorded. Two species of Odontomachus were found, most prominently O. bauri Emery, 1892 and, in a single sample, O. ruginodis Smith, 1937. Many Odontomachus colonies were found to be co-habitating in terrestrial termite mounds or rotting wood along with their termitid inhabitants. No Odontomachus spp. were found at elevations higher than 1686 ft above sea level. High resolution images of each species collected are included. The specimens of O. ruginodis that were collected are new records for the Commonwealth of Dominica. Our study provides implications for further biological and ecological studies on Odontomachus, particularly their relationships with other ant species and termites, as well as their distribution throughout the Commonwealth of Dominica and the Caribbean.
- Subjects
ODONTOMACHUS; HYMENOPTERA; ANTS; TERMITES; INTRODUCED species
- Publication
Instars: A Journal of Student Research, 2017, Vol 3, p59
- ISSN
2374-7595
- Publication type
Article