Trap-Jaw Ants in South Carolina

Trap-jaw ants are active hunters with venomous stings and jaws strong enough to fling themselves through the air. These ants will use their powerful mandibles to not only attack but to escape, by hurling themselves away from predators. Generally found in tropical areas, they are currently spreading throughout South Carolina. When foraging for food, they may wander into homes where they may become an issue due to their painful bite, venomous sting, and aggressive behavior when their nest is threatened. 

Trap-Jaw Ant Habitat

Building small colonies with only one queen and less than 200 ants, trap-jaw ants eat small insects and sweet substances. Trap-jaw ants nest in soil, leaf litter, and rotting logs. They are typically found under dead wood or beneath forest floors. In urban areas, their nests can usually be found in the mulch underneath hedges of landscaped areas near homes, commercial buildings, malls, and hotels.

Trap-Jaw Ant Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers

The obvious danger regarding trap-jaw ants is their bite. Scientists have found the ant’s jaws accelerate at 100,000 times the force of gravity. When snapping their jaw shut, trap-jaw ants reach speeds up to 145 mph, exerting forces 300 to 500 times the ant’s body weight! However, these ants also have a painful stinger, and if a nest is threatened, workers will immediately jump at the attacker, stinging and biting. The trap-jaw ants’ stinger is not barbed and can be used repeatedly. Although their venom isn’t fatal, it can produce an allergic reaction. If you suspect a trap-jaw ant infestation, it is recommended to consult a professional ant exterminator.