Introduction:
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.
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 |
