Solenopsis geminata (Fabricius, 1804)

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

2. Solenopsis geminata (Fabricius, 1804)

First record for Ghana.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. GHANA: • Accra , shopping mall, 5.605N, 0.180W, 12.i.2019, (leg. K. Gomez) .

Solenopsis geminata , the Tropical Fire Ant (TFA), is one of the world’s worst invasive ant species ( ISSG, 2017). This species is native to the New World (South and Central America), it is very conspicuous and has spread to many parts of the world ( WETTERER, 2011). Solenopsis geminata can be found in both natural and disturbed ecosystems but it has become a serious pest in urban and agricultural environments ( HOLWAY et al., 2002). It can be found in a wider range of habitats than any other fire ant species ( TSCHINKEL, 2006). It has long been a threat to humans and animal health through its painful and powerful sting ( WAUTERS et al., 2014). The havoc of this ant on other invertebrates and vertebrates have been well documented ( PLENTOVICH et al., 2009; WAUTERS et al., 2014). As a result of its ecological abundance and dominant behavior, it sometimes serves as a biocontrol agent in controlling invertebrate pests ( YUSA, 2001). It has been reported from most of the West African countries, including Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, Senegal, Guinea, Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire ( WETTERER, 2011; KOUAKOU et al., 2017).