Trichomyrmex destructor (Jerdon, 1851)

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 : 9-13

6. Trichomyrmex destructor (Jerdon, 1851)

First records for Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal.

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

NIGERIA: • Lagos, Lekki, Omu Resort Ibeju , grassland, 10 m, 6.490N, 3.753E, v.2019 ; • Lagos, Ilupeju, Mushin , residential area 10 m, 6.549N, 3.360E, v.2020 ; • Lagos, Badagry , grassland/cassava/coconut, 10 m, 6.427N, 2.839E, iv.2019, (leg. B.O. Jimoh) .

SENEGAL: • Kedougou, Kedougou city, 150 m, 12.558N, - 12.200W, 15.ix.2017 ; • Kedougou, nr. Ibel , 165 m, 12.512N, 12.373W, 01–15.ix.2017 ; • Kedougou, nr. Dialaya, Gambia riverside, savannah forest, 160 m, 12.543N, - 12.193W, 10–15.x. 2017, (leg. A. Diallo) .

Trichomyrmex destructor (formerly Monomorium destructor ) is also known as destroyer ant, and is tagged as one of the species that is highly invasive ( FOURNIER, 2019). Trichomyrmex destructor is one of the major ecological, agricultural and household pest species ( WETTERER, 2015). This ant is so destructive to the extent that it was found chewing anything around the house (food, fabrics, electric insulator and furniture) and attacking the residents of Cape Verde in their farms, homes, even on the bed ( WETTERER, 2009b). It is also worthy to note that according to WETTERER (2009b), a common forest ant was encountered in collections made in Ghana and Nigeria by TAYLOR (1980), MAJER (1976) and ROOM (1971) that was tagged Monomorium sp. G which was attributed to Monomorium destructor but with further examination by BOLTON (1987), Monomorium sp. G was assigned to Monomorium oscaris due to the fact that Monomorium sp. G is different from Monomorium destructor .