Weird! Ant ID Pic!

[Galapoheros]

Found these strange ants today. Now I'm not real into ants but I've always thought they were interesting. I think all of it's interesting really. If you look reeeeeaaal hard, you will realise that this is not a real picture, hahahaha. I lost the ant I put in a container so I had to attempt a drawing. I think the holes were too big. Didn't bother drawing the legs. Here's what was weird. Some were walking around with their pincers at 180 degrees. I would put my finger in front of one of the ants and it would SNAP them shut at a tremendous speed! REAL fast! So fast that the ant would go flying through the air like a mouse trap! The the head and jaws reminded me of an antlion. The mechanism seemed to work like the 'click' of a click beetle. Can someone tell me what these are? I may have to relocate them and get a real picture.

 

[Malhavoc's]

Some "soldeir" ants in various species adept specialized Tools to defend the nest, what local are you in? this will help the more qualified experts here help you out. and is that....true to their colouration?

 

[Scolopendra55]

Those are ants in the genus Acanthognathus. It's my favorite genus other than Myrmecia.

 

[Scythemantis]

Yep, from what I know, the "spring-loaded" jaws are an aspect of "primitive" ant physiology but one that is still effective.

 

[Galapoheros]

Some "soldeir" ants in various species adept specialized Tools to defend the nest, what local are you in? this will help the more qualified experts here help you out. and is that....true to their colouration?

I found these in the Georgetown area, and that's about 15 miles north of Austin Tx. US. That's about as close to their true color as I could get it and like I remember them. Definitely a black ab and dark, rusty red thorax and head. Thought they were interesting.

 

[Galapoheros]

Those are ants in the genus Acanthognathus. It's my favorite genus other than Myrmecia.

OK, thanks, I'll go check that out!

 

[Galapoheros]

Son of a diddly! I can't find anything about this genus existing in Tx. I know it's in the genus Acanthognathus after getting more info. Can someone point me to a good 'ant' forum? Googled but, I've got dialup and so much to dig through. Which one's a good forum?

 

[aggie08]

Hmm, i'm pretty close to that area and I can't say i've ever seen anything like that. Interesting.

 

[Galapoheros]

Hmm, i'm pretty close to that area and I can't say i've ever seen anything like that. Interesting.

Well, you must be from the Franklin area to around Crockett? That's where I want to move eventually. In there somewhere. I'm going to see if I can get some of those ants. But when I found them under that rock, I don't think I put the rock back well enough for them to stay there. There weren't very many. I'm going back to that spot next week but I'm in Bryan right now at my parents. Man, different worlds. Pretty boring for me. They seem stuck and dillusional. I probably seem weird to them too.