Most varieties of ants in Gambia are pretty harmless, but a few
common species boast a very painful bite. One type of which you
should especially be on the lookout for is the Army (or Driver)
ant, who most often marches through tunnels made by his companions’
bodies.
They are mostly found in places of water and moisture, e.g. gardens,
lawns of hotels, and everywhere in the rainy season. When they
bite, they clap on and often draw blood. Their pincers hold on
so tightly that they have been traditionally used as sutures to
close a wound; if you remove its body, its head will remain firmly
attached to your skin. If you are bitten, make sure you clean
the site of the bite, applying antiseptic to avoid infection.
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Gambian Ant Species List:
Aenictinae
Aenictus
rotundatus subsp. guineensis
Dolichoderinae
Tapinoma
luridum
luteum
melanocephalum
modestum
Dorylinae
Dorylus (all T)
atriceps
attenuatus
rufescens
affinis
fimbriatus
fulvus subsp. glabratus
Formicinae
Camponotus
cosmicus
flavomarginatus
furvus
maculatus (T)
maynei
olivieri subsp. delagoensis
olivieri subsp. lemma*
rufoglaucus subsp. controversus
sericeus (T; E&B)
solon
vividus (T; C): pseudogyne in Collingwood collection.
Cataglyphis
lividus (C): unlikely, as it is not found elsewhere in Africa.
oasium (C)
Lepisiota
capensis subsp. guineensis
capensis subsp. laevis
Oecophylla
longinoda (T; E&B)
E&B also list smaragdina, but this is probably erroneous.
Paratrechina
longicornis
Plagiolepis
mediorufa
Myrmecinae
Cardiocondyla
emeryi - a widespread tramp species.
Cataulacus
guineensis
traegaordhi
Crematogaster
chiarinii subsp. taediosa (T)
excisa
gambiensis (T)
impressa
impressa subsp. brazzai (T)
juventa
senegalensis
wellmani (T)
Monomorium
afrum
bicolor (T)
dictator
cf. dolatu
egens
exiguum
mictilis
cf. osiridis
rosae
vonatu
Nesomyrmex
angulatus
Pheidole
andrieui
punctulata
rugaticeps
sculpturata
Pyramica
maynei
Tetramorium
sericeiventre (T)
Ponerinae
Odontomachus
troglodytes
Pachycondyla
brunoi (T)
escherichi (C)
tarsata (E&B)
sennaarensis
Pseudomyrmecinae
Tetraponera
claveaui
ambigua
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Geography
& Nature Wildlife Darwin
Initiative Makasutu
Wildlife Trust
