This expedition to Nigeria was a multidisciplinary scientific project carried out in collaboration with the University of Ife (then located in Ibadan). The team consisted of seven members and focused on three major research areas: entomology, myxomycetes, and parasitology.
The expedition was made possible through strong academic links between Imperial and Nigerian universities, with significant logistical support from staff at the University of Ife. After arriving in Lagos and travelling to Ibadan, the team used university facilities as a base and also undertook extended fieldwork at the Shagunu Field Station near the River Niger. Field travel included a broad tour through northern and eastern Nigeria, allowing ecological comparisons across regions.
The entomology project focused on ecological studies of grasshoppers (Acridoidea), examining population density, species composition, feeding behaviour, crop content analysis, predator-prey interactions, and parasitism. Using mark–recapture techniques, researchers estimated a grasshopper population of nearly 4,000 individuals in a 1,700 m² study area. Detailed analyses of food preferences showed wide dietary variation, with many species feeding on both grasses and forbs, and some species (e.g., Cannula linearis) showing strong host specificity. Parasitic nematodes and gregarines were also recorded.
The myxomycete project documented slime‑mould species from forest, savannah, and laboratory cultures. Numerous species—including new records for West Africa—were collected, with moist‑chamber cultures yielding particularly valuable findings such as Cribraria violacea and Licea biforis. The parasitology project involved capturing and dissecting 105 bats from three species. Detailed examinations revealed several trematodes, including a previously undescribed species of Maxbraunium, later confirmed and named Maxbraunium nigeriense.
Overall, the expedition strengthened scientific ties, produced significant biological collections, and identified multiple species new to science.