About Gigantiops destructor (Fabricius, 1804)
Gigantiops is a South American genus of jumping ants belonging to the subfamily Formicinae. This genus holds only one species: Gigantiops destructor (Fabricius, 1804), which is also the only member of the tribe Gigantiopini. This species has the largest eyes of all ant species, is recognized for its jumping ability, and has the highest chromosome count of any species in the subfamily Formicinae, with 2n = 78. The Gigantiops genus is found in the Amazon region of South America. Members of the genus nest in soil, rotten wood, or pre-existing cavities created by other animals, such as beetle galleries or nests of the bullet ant Paraponera clavata. Their distribution range spans from approximately 10 degrees north to 15 degrees south of the equator.
