Centromyrmex gigas

According to Luederwaldt (1926: 238), who discovered two colonies of the present species in termite nests of Syntermes dirus Burmeister (probably not dirus but wheeleri, cf. Araujo, 1958: 211-2), single colonies seem to consist of very few individuals and alate sexual offspring is found in the nest in October. One nest contained only three individuals (incipient colony?). H. S. Lopes, as reported by Borgmeier (1937: 223), found the same species at Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro City, likewise in a nest of Syntermes sp. (Kempf 1967)

Identification
A member of the brachycola species group.

Key to Centromyrmex species

Distribution
Kempf reports this species from southeastern Brazil and adjacent areas of Argentina. This taxon was described from Brazil.

Nomenclature

 *  gigas. Centromyrmex gigas Forel, 1911c: 287 (w.) BRAZIL. Borgmeier, 1937b: 223 (q.). See also: Kempf, 1967b: 407.

Worker
Kempf (1967) - Total length about 12 mm. Head length 1.76-1.92 mm; head width 1.94-2.23 mm; thorax length 2.93-3.20 mm; hind tibia length 1.20-1.33 mm; hind metatarsus length 0.85-0.96 mm. Rather reddish brown than amber-colored, generally darker than Centromyrmex brachycola. Mandibles distinctly dentate at basal half, chewing border forming an obtuse angle with basal border. Head distinctly broader than long, sides more rounded, converging cephalad. Occiput gently concave. Clypeus without a median tumulus on disc. At posterior end of frontal sulcus often a rudimentary ocellus. Mesoepinotal suture either absent or indicated by a faint transverse notch. Mesopleura often divided by a transverse suture into anepisternum and catepisternum. Epinotum not so strongly constricted nor depressed as in brachycola; basal face often with a faint, saddle-shaped impression in the middle; declivous face less oblique than in brachycola. Metasternal angle more extensively striolate. Mesial spur of middle tibiae long and projecting beyond apex of tibia. Extensor face of hind tibiae with spine-like setae on apical half. Petiole as shown in Figs. 9 and 10; note the long subpetiolar process. Sternum I of gaster with a marginate tuberosity beneath petiolar insertion.

Queen
Kempf (1967) - Head length 1.86-2.00 mm; head width 2.13-2.29 mm; maximum diameter of eyes 0.53-0.67 mm; thorax length 3.47-4.00 mm. Similar to the worker with the usual differences of the caste. Wings as in brachycola, hind wing with 8 hamuli.

Type Material
Kempf (1967) - Syntypes in the collections of the Departamento de Zoologia da Secretaria de Agricultura de Sao Paulo (DZSP), of Forel and in my own (WWK).