A checklist of Nigerian ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae): a review, new records and exotic species

Abstract

As many as 106 species were recorded from the survey in the current study, of which 28 are new to Nigeria and additional 28 are identified to the morphospecies level. In total, 317 species from 10 subfamilies and 64 genera are now recorded from Nigeria, including 11 invasive ants, of which six are new to Nigeria. The following eleven species that were included in the 1970 checklist were excluded from the current list, mostly due to previous misidentifications: <i>Aenictusrotundatus</i> Mayr, 1901; <i>Anochetusjonesi</i> Arnold, 1926; <i>Camponotusbarbarossamicipsa</i> Wheeler, 1992; <i>Camponotusforaminosusdorsalis</i> Santschi, 1926; <i>Camponotusrufoglaucus</i> (Jerdon, 1851); <i>Cardiocondylazoserka</i> Bolton, 1982; <i>Messorbarbarus</i> (Linnaeus, 1767); <i>Odontomachushaematodus</i> (Linnaeus, 1758); <i>Technomyrmexalbipes</i> (Smith, 1861); <i>Tetramoriumdecem</i> Forel, 1913 and <i>Tetraponerapenzigi</i> (Mayr, 1907).