Ocymyrmex fortior

Bolton and Marsh (1989) - One of the most widespread species in southern Africa. Prins (1963) notes that in prevailingly grassy areas of the Kruger National Park, South Africa, this species (as O. weitzeckeri var. arnoldi) is quite common. He states that the ants are mainly granivorous but have also been observed capturing workers of Odontomachus troglodytes (as O. haematodes) and preying on termites. He also records that the species was found in nests of Hodotermes mossambicus, though whether as a predator or merely using the termite nest as a nest-site is not stated.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Nomenclature

 *  fortior. Ocymyrmex weitzeckeri st. fortior Santschi, 1911g: 209 (w.) ANGOLA. Bolton, 1981b: 261 (q.m.). Raised to species and senior synonym of arnoldi (and its junior synonym abdominalis), transversus, usakosensis: Bolton, 1981b: 269. See also: Bolton & Marsh, 1989: 1296.
 * transversus. Ocymyrmex weitzeckeri st. transversus Santschi, 1911g: 209 (q., not w.) ANGOLA. Junior synonym of fortior: Bolton, 1981b: 269.
 * arnoldi. Ocymyrmex arnoldi Forel, 1913a: 138 (w.m.) ZIMBABWE. Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1973b: 76 (l.). Subspecies of weitzeckeri: Forel, 1913j: 213; Arnold, 1916: 197. Senior synonym of abdominalis: Arnold, 1916: 197. Junior synonym of fortior: Bolton, 1981b: 269.
 * abdominalis. Ocymyrmex weitzeckeri st. abdominalis Santschi, 1914e: 16 (w.) SOUTH AFRICA. Junior synonym of arnoldi: Arnold, 1916: 197.
 * usakosensis. Ocymyrmex weitzeckeri var. usakosensis Stitz, 1923: 146 (w.) NAMIBIA. Junior synonym of fortior: Bolton, 1981b: 269.