True Facts: Trap Jaw Ants 

"Scary stuff. Like being in kindergarten, and having a biter in the ball-pit" That's so scary and funny at the same time. And, never was an antlion likened so aptly.

Love the “play this in sex Ed class without telling them what it is and just say always wear a condom.” Lol

"she looks like shes overdoing it a bit but who knows, termite might be talking sh*t" i already love this channel

I love how Jerry started as an offhand joke in one of his videos, and now he's a recurring character

“Oh, you were bleeping what they were thinking.” That.... was very clever, Jerry.

True fact: humans heart rate rises and pupils dilate when they see a zefrank video notification

God: “Adam, you get one wish.” Adam: “Ants stay small.” God: “Done.”

My late Grandma grew up in Guatemala, and told us that the "Indios," as they were commonly known, the native people, would use ants similar to these when suffering a cut that we would see as needing stitches. An ant was held over the cut until its jaws were triggered, closing the wound. The body was quickly twisted off and the head would remain attached as a sort of formic suture. A line of these would stitch up the gash and they were good to go!

Not gonna lie. When Mildred turned herself around in the death pit and bit her predator in the face to escape it was pretty badass.

“The bleep button is a privilege, amateur.”

The way Mildred spun as she flew out of the ant lion pit was definitely the funniest part for me.

Telling Jerry to show us what he designed after talking about a "recalled sex toy" sounded like we were going to get a very different demonstration.

"Imagine a Wheel of Fortune where the word 'scumbag', is being displayed, but people still have to guess the 's'". Congratulations Zefrank, you outdone yourself

“Sticky doorknob” sounds like one of those slang terms you’d look up on Urban Dictionary and immediately regret it.

If you've ever wondered what a love child of Sir David Attenborough and Robin Williams would sound like, well now you know

8:38 A bit of a correction: there he's likely referring to the Asian Pericapritermes nitobei termites (who became relatively notorious a while ago for dethroning Mystrium in blow speed), however they don't do the "basically the same thing" at all but employ a very different technique than the one used by Mystrium: the asymmetrical snapping, totally unique to termites. This advanced technique involve highly assimmetrical and very weirdly shaped mandibles (along with a big head full of muscles) and work on a different principle tha the symmetrical snap used by Mystrium (and several termite species aswell), allowing their blows to reach velocities unmatchable by symmetrical snappers (or any other snapping ants). P. nitobei soldiers snaps at up to 121 meters per seconds, well above the 90 meters per second reached by Mystrium, but they're still not the fastest known animal movement in the world: that trophy is currently held by another much larger asymmetrical snapping termite: Neocapritermes taracua from South America. This very interesting species (beside being known for the kamikaze toxic "backpacks" their older workers are equipped with) have soldiers than can snap at a whopping 153 meters per second (as very recently registered by termitologist Jan Sobotnik and his team), which neatly beat P. nitobei's (and shatters Mystrium's) "scores". Said so, though there are a lot of termite species that employ the asymmetrical snapping technique, only these these two had their snap speed measured, so the real "fastest blow in the animal Kingdom" is likely still hiding among them, unknown to us due to a lack of research on termites.

"Butt ants... Sorry, but ants..." This is a joke he uses in so many videos, and yet it ALWAYS gets me.

Him: “Play this in Sex Ed class without telling them what it is and just say always wear a condom.” Every substitute teacher ever: WRITE THAT DOWN!

"Biter in the ball pit" hit way to close for me, I was in fact bitten at a McDonald's playhouse ball pit by some dirty ass kid who didn't know what personal space meant. He bit me on the calf while I was trying to do some butterfly stroke type motion lol. Shit hurt and when he finally got taken out he didn't even have a parent with him. Turns out he lived just down the block.

You teach in a way that my ADD and ADHD can handle. The quick quips and jests give my brain just a momentary release from any monotony that it's perceiving and grab my attention right back with cool, well explained (and enjoyable) explanations. It's probably not even a thought or a basis for making the channel but you may be one of the best teachers I have ever had about these subjects. Not getting overly mushy but, thank you and please keep these coming!

"Play this in a sex-ed class without telling anyone what it is." For the record, That line caused me to subscribe.

Mom: "Alright girls, someones gotta go get groceries, you decide who." Mildred: *stares at Mandy* Mandy: *stares at Mildred* Mildred: *proceeds to aggressively poke her sister's forehead* Mandy: *proceeds to aggressively poke her sister's forehead* Mandy: I win Mildred: *plays sad music as she goes to the grocery store alone*

That first ant does like 20 flips in a row, that's alot. Any human would die around flip 6 from your brain bouncing around too much. Ants are such little badasses and I've always liked them.

"but who knows, the termite might be talking sh...BEEP" i lost it... freakn lost it xD

“Butt ants like Mildre- sorry, *but* Ants like Mildred ...” lol

Haha love these ants! Their bite hurts SO MUCH! 🖤🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜

"Butt Ants like Mildred!" "Sorry" "But Ants like Mildred" 😂🤣😂🤣

I saw these during a trip to Brazil. Their jaws snapped shut with such force, that you could hear a "tick" sound whenever they did it!

"You don't know, termite might be talking shit."🤣🤣🤣

He has the voice of a National Geographic narrator but the humor of a drunken college student at a part time job interview Edit: YOU FOOL THERE IS NO EDIT

Ze, look into Volcanic Snails! They're wild, and I'd love to learn more about them, True Facts style!

I like how these ants can essentially rocket jump

Imagine if a mugger corners you in an alley. Then you bite him so hard you launch into the air and land out of the alley on the other side of the road away from danger. That is how a TrapJaw Ant do.

“LOOKS NOTHING LIKE THE DAUGHTERS SO THERE WERE RUMORS” IM FUCKIN WEAK😂😂😂😂😂

Mildred (I can't spell, sorry) falling off the table and bouncing when she hit the floor is just hilarious.

Zefrank is in a league of his own making me laugh and educating me at the same time.. The funny made up accent, the humor, the wit..... Pure Genius 🤣🤣🤣

One of these days a mischievous scientist will make a huge discovery and call it "sticky knobs" just for the lols.

“...They’re like those annoying children that keep asking “why?”, except people give them money. Not much, because it encourages them.” As a scientist this is hilarious to me.

I love how he personifies these animals and gives them human names. Pure gold lol

No Body: Zefrank "you never know, termite might be talking shit"

wish i can slap my jaw so fast that it makes a recoil to bounce me off from the predators

Having a bear trap jaw is cool. Having a bear trap jaw that doubles as an escape catapult is next level tech.

I've heard a lot about trap jaw ants and how badass their jaws are. No one ever mentioned they fire themselves off like catapaults and bound and spin around so much. Not sure if that makes them more or less badass.

You should really do mystery snails mainly because I think you'll have fun with it. They have a tube that comes from the front of them that they extend up to the surface in order to get air

“That’s some Cinderella sh*t right there.” I just fell off my chair and am now wheezing uncontrollably from laughing . Send help.

Imagine playing a claw machine with your mustache. Now imagine your mustache moving so incredibly fast that is launches you backwards across the room. That's how the trap jaw ant do.

If all my old teachers taught like this, I'd pass every test.

Watching trapjaw ants blast off spinning like a wet rag will never get old

“Jerry do we have any footage where he’s not drunk? This is embarrassing!” Killed me

Imagine the first scientist to witness an ant parkour itself off of a predator, doing a ninja flip out of a sandpit. I'd have to go sit down somewhere for a bit.

My husband showed me the ant lions at the farm we were at. There were a hunch of holes everywhere and he put a poor old ant in the hole and just watched the ant lion throw sand to get the ant sucked in. Crazy but so fascinating.

This man needs to teach everything about ants. Legend!!!

I got confused at one point. It went something like this: "Jerry, show them what you made, it's a bit easier to understand." *cuts to ad at this exact moment without me noticing* *ad shows a bottoms up view of fries being poured into a container* Me: "I don't think this is any easier to understand"

I love that they actually made a model to show how the mandible work. That's dedication right there.

The whole thing was fantastic. From the dropping ants to the antimations. Love it

I love every single True Facts video! More often than not, they're about critters I don't even particularly care about, but I ALWAYS learn really cool things and laugh like crazy. It's a real talent to be able to make the life cycle of the Trap Jaw Ant something you would look forward to watching and tell your friends and family about. Imagine if this is how kids were taught in school?! Everyone would be a genius!

If Mildred has a stinger in her butt are we really sure that her dad wasn't actually just a wasp after all?

“She gets triggered easily, Kinda like a ‘Catch me Outside’ kind of ant.”

I love these videos and appreciate the evolution of this channel to connecting with scientists. I watch these in my free time as a PhD student. love!

I appreciate how the credits has "ants falling and spinning" stock footage

These ants be like "I have proven that I'm stronger than you. Therefore you shall take on much more dangerous job, that probably would require strength."

"Butt ants like mildred -sorry- but ants like mildred..." This....this is why we watch your videos

"Termite might be talking shit" Was a sentence I never expected to hear, but it's golden

Oh the joys of rediscovering your videos three years later. I had totally forgotten and now there's a backlog to clear!!! ❤️

Dang I’m here today faster than Mildred’s jaws on Dr. Smith’s finger

Birds: *evolves wings to fly* Ants: Wanna see how fast I can move my face?

This was one of the more fascinating videos from this channel that I've been (re)binging for the past few days. 10 times the acceleration of a bat hitting a fastball! Like, what the heck! Amazing.

These videos are very rewatchable, funny, and educational. And Jerry, you did great work this episode.

In fact, it was recently discovered that one of the fastest known movements in the animal kingdom is us True Facts fans clicking on this video once they see it in their queue

I feel like those bouncing ants at the end wouldn't be out of place in a James Bond movie opening...

The upward inflection at the start of most sentences is a trait I appreciate. All is forgiven.

"It's like being in kindergarten and having a biter in the ball pit"

I never realised how much I wanted to watch 10min of ants majestically spinning into the air in slow motion at 3am until I saw this

MIldred really does look like she enjoys the Gmod physics engine

I remember seeing these tiny pits that would snatch an ant if it fell into it. Always wondered what the heck was going on there.

perfect establishment of the tone by showing a clip of an ant doing flips in slow motion at the start of the video

Zefrank: "That's the problem with scientists. Except people give them money! Not much, but ..." Me, a scientist: crying

For those wondering what Adrian Smith does with his fingers: He plays guitar for Iron Maiden.

I don’t think anyone else can make me sit through videos of insects but you, it’s very fascinating. Thanks for linking the scientists too so I could look them up later!

0:12 - "sorry, you'll have to excuse Mildred, she gets triggered very easily, sorta a catch me outside kinda ant", lmao!!!😂🤣😅😆

That footage of the bouncing, spinning ants needs to be the basis of the title sequence in the next James Bond movie.

Dude,.. you're like my hero and shit. Entertaining AND educational. You should be presented to every aspiring science curriculum in our educational system. You make it fun.

The funny thing about this is that the original meaning of "scumbag" is literally the same with or without the S

The ants flying off into the sunset is the funniest shit I've ever seen

My favorite line this time: "It's like being in kindergarten and having a biter in the ball pit." XD

8:45 The greatest description of science ever.

My friend used to decspitate these things, you can even hear the sound of their jaws closing

“It’s like having a biter in the ball pit” my god I haven’t laughed that hard in awhile

I will NEVER EVER get tired of the "Why did you bleep that?" routine, no matter how much you use it! 😂

So glad to find this again

These are so delightful. I wish you had time to redo a few of them for kids. Especially the Leafhopper episode.

“Tell me what is a f**k band Jerry?” Why was this the part that broke me? I spent a solid 5 minutes laughing on the floor

“Jerry Mildred jumped off the table again” oh yes xD it’s gunna be good I can already tell!

I _just_ love the sound of your voice ZeFrank

I’ve never laughed so flipping hard at science... dear God my cheeks hurt and tears are streaming down my face! Thanks !!! 😂🤣😂🤣

"which they probably called "sticky knobs" until the UK scientists were like "NOPE." my face hurts from laughing so much

That was a crazy cliffhanger when you told Jerry to show us the one he made after calling it a sex toy and then RU-vid cut to commercial.

Such a unique style and so much legit information... One of the best offerings on RU-vid.

"Except people give them money! Not much, but... [chuckle] thank goodnes, because it encourages them." Ooof

Staring at these closeups of ants has made me realize how creepy they are and how glad I am they aren’t human sized.