Gigantiops facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gigantiops |
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| G. destructor worker from Peru | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Subfamily: |
Formicinae
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| Tribe: |
Gigantiopini
Ashmead, 1905
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| Genus: |
Gigantiops
Roger, 1863
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| Species: |
G. destructor
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| Binomial name | |
| Gigantiops destructor (Fabricius, 1804)
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| Type species | |
| Formica destructor |
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Gigantiops is a special group of jumping ants found in South America. There's only one known species in this group, called Gigantiops destructor. These ants are super unique! They have the biggest eyes of any ant, which helps them see really well. They are also known for their amazing ability to jump. Imagine an ant jumping!
Where Gigantiops Ants Live
These ants live in the Amazon rainforest in South America. You can find them from about 10 degrees north to 15 degrees south of the equator. They like to make their homes in the soil, inside rotten wood, or in holes dug by other animals. Sometimes, they even use tunnels made by beetles or nests left empty by other ants, like the bullet ant.
What Gigantiops Ants Eat
During the day, Gigantiops worker ants go out alone to find food. They search on the ground and in tree branches. Their diet includes sweet nectar from plants and small arthropods, which are like tiny bugs. Sometimes, they even eat their prey right where they catch it!
When they bring food back to the nest, they chew it up for the baby ants, called larvae. These ants are very independent when it comes to finding food. They don't work together or call their friends to help. In fact, they might even fight with other ants from their own nest over a tasty meal!
Images for kids
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A G. destructor worker from Peru
