Solenopsis globularia (Smith, F., 1858)

Jimoh, Bunmi Omowumi, Gomez, Kiko, Kemabonta, Kehinde Abike & Makanjuola, Winifred Ayinke, 1886, New records of non-native ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in four African countries, Belgian Journal of Entomology 119, pp. 1-14 : 5-9

3. Solenopsis globularia (Smith, F., 1858)

First records for Ghana and Nigeria.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. GHANA: • Accra , Legon University, 5.641N, 0.192W, 05.i.2019 ; • Kumasi , Ejisu, CSIR / FORIG, guesthouse, 6.716N, 1.523W, 10.i.2019, (leg. K. Gomez) .

NIGERIA: • Lagos, Lekki, Omu Resort Ibeju , grassland, 10 m, 6.490N, 3.753E, v.2019 ; • Lagos, Lufasi Nature Park , grassland and palms, 10 m, 6.468N, 3.655E, v.2019 ; • Lagos, Lekki NCF, Conservation Centre , grassland, 10 m, 6.432N, 3.536E, v.2019 ; • Lagos, Ilupeju, Mushin , residential area 10 m, 6.549N, 3.360E, v.2020 ; • Lagos, Kosofe, Ketu , residential area, 10 m, 6.591N, 3.402E, v.2020 ; • Lagos, Egbeda, Ikotun , residential area, 10m, 6.576N, 3.273E, v.2020, (leg. B.O. Jimoh) .

Solenopsis globularia is a Neotropical species which has spread to other areas outside its native range. It is smaller in size and less conspicuous compared to other species of the genus Solenopsis ( WETTERER, 2019) . There are few publications on S. globularia being a pest ( WETTERER, 2019), but they have a wide geographical distribution in the New World (Americas), so a population of S. globularia found outside this region could likely be exotic. They are now found in the Afrotropical and Oceania bioregions ( WETTERER, 2015), their spread has crossed their native region to Atlantic Islands ( Ascension, Cabo Verde, St. Helena), Pacific Islands (Hawaii, French Polynesia, Philippines) and Africa ( Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal) ( WETTERER, 2019) as well as the Galápagos Archipelago ( HERRERA et al., 2020).