Godam ant (Odontoponera denticulata)

Godam ant (Odontoponera denticulata) is a species of ant belonging to the family Formicidae. These ants are black in color; the queens are 11–13 mm long and winged, while the workers are 9–12 mm long. They possess triangular mandibles, with antennal scrobes and antennal sockets located near the mandibles. The antennae consist of 12–13 segments. This species inhabits the edges of tropical rainforests, plantations, and disturbed land.

When viewed from the front, the worker's head is rectangular, with slightly convex lateral sides and a very shallowly concave occipital margin. The anterior margin of the clypeus bears 8 teeth. The mandibles are robust and triangular, featuring 5 teeth. The eyes are large and round, containing approximately 25 ommatidia along their long axis. The vertex features a poorly developed raised area near the occipital margin. The antennae consist of 12 segments, with the antennal scape extending only slightly beyond the occipital margin.



In lateral view, the dorsum of the mesosoma is slightly convex, with a distinct promesonotal suture and metanotal groove, which clearly define the mesonotum. When viewed from above, the mesosoma tapers from the pronotum toward the propodeum. The shoulders of the pronotum bear a pair of blunt spines, and the anterior margin of the pronotum is convex. The posterodorsal angles of the propodeum are rounded, forming an obtuse angle, and are equipped with several pairs of small teeth (denticles).

When viewed from above, the petiole is wider than it is long. In frontal view, the petiolar node is slightly concave at its apex. In lateral view, the petiolar node appears as a slender triangle with straight anterior and posterior margins. In lateral profile, the subpetiolar process is trapezoidal, tapering toward the rear; the anteroventral angle forms a right angle, while the posteroventral angle is more acute.

Regarding sculpture, the head and mesosoma feature deep rugae (wrinkles). The pronotum exhibits deep, regular transverse rugae, with curved rugae visible along its lateral profile, while the mesonotum and propodeum also bear slightly curved transverse rugae. The clypeus displays longitudinal striae (fine lines). The declivitous face of the propodeum has several shallow transverse striae. The mandibles, subpetiolar process, and gaster appear smooth. Rugae on the petiole are barely discernible.

In terms of pilosity, the sides of the head, the anterior margin of the clypeus, the sides of the mandibles, the dorsum of the mesosoma, the petiolar node, and the gaster are covered with erect hairs of varying lengths. The antennae, legs, propodeal dorsum, petiolar node, and gaster are densely covered with fine, appressed hairs (pubescence).

The body is brownish-black, sometimes with a reddish tinge. The antennae and legs are reddish-brown.

O. denticulata inhabits wooded areas, including forest edges and disturbed land. They nest in the soil and forage on the surface. A single colony may occupy several distinct nests connected by underground tunnels with multiple entrances. Worker ants effectively guard these nest entrances against intruders.

Workers are generally epigeic (surface-dwelling) foragers. They frequently encounter predators such as termite colonies or other ant species. They hunt and forage within a radius of approximately one meter from their nest entrances. Their mandibular glands and abdominal secretions contain proteins that function as venom.

TAXON

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Subclass: Pterygota
Order: Hymenoptera
Suborder: Apocrita
Infraorder: Aculeata
Superfamily: Vespoidea
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Ponerinae
Tribe: Ponerini
Genus: Odontoponera Mayr (1862)
Species: Odontoponera denticulata F. Smith (1858)

VERNACULAR NAME

Chinese (simplified): 齿唇齿猛蚁
Chinese (traditional): 猛齒蟻 - 齒唇齒猛蟻
Hong Kong: 齒唇齒猛蟻
Indonesia: Semut godam
Java: Semut godam
Macao: 齒唇齒猛蟻
Thai: มดไอ้ชื่นดำ

Aryo Bandoro
Dlium TheDlium
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