Odontomachus ruginodis Smith, 1937

Herrera Léon Baert Wouter Dekoninck, Henri W., Causton, Charlotte E., Sevilla, Christian R., Pozo, Paola & Hendrickx, Frederik, 2020, Distribution and habitat preferences of Galápagos ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Belgian Journal of Entomology 93, pp. 1-60 : 49

Odontomachus ruginodis Smith, 1937

Rough–Node Snapping Ant ( DEYRUP et al., 2000)

(ANTWEB: ICCDRS0013038). ( Map 49 )

This species occurs in the northern neotropics, southeastern United States, Central America, and many Caribbean islands ( KEMPF, 1972; BRANDÃO, 1991; BOLTON et al., 2006). Odontomachus ruginodis is an introduced species, collected for the first time in Galápagos in 2008 in the urban area of Santa Cruz Island ( HERRERA et al., 2014). Since then it has become increasingly abundant. It nests in soil and under stones. Some specimens were found at the base and in the roots of C. roseus , an ornamental plant. Odontomachus ruginodis is common in disturbed areas, beaches, open woods and mangroves ( DEYRUP et al., 1988; DEYRUP et al., 2000). Its invasive potential has yet to be evaluated, however its rapid colonization of areas and its predatory habits suggest that it should be monitored closely.

Figures

Map 49. Distribution of Odontomachus ruginodis Smith, 1937.