SURVEY OF THE TERRESTRIAL ARTHROPODS FOUND IN THE CAVES OF GHANA

The first biological inventory of the caves of Ghana was conducted during January 2006 with some subsequent work in June 2007 and July 2008. Seventy species or morphospecies of insects, as well as amblypigids, phalangids, and diplopods were discovered in sixteen caves. All taxa appear to be either troglophilic or accidental and the most abundant and richest insect faunas were found in caves with resident bat populations. Insect diversity in caves consists mainly of species of cockroaches, cave crickets, tenebrionid beetles, reduviid assassin bugs, and ants. All caves surveyed are briefly described, coordinates documented, and a list of all the arthropods discovered is also given.