Ocymyrmex weitzeckeri

Identification
Bolton and Marsh (1989) - This apparently rare species appears to be closely related to the much more common and widespread Ocymyrmex fortior. In available material workers of the two may be distinguished as follows. In general weitzeckeri workers are very dark in colour and relatively dull, being very dull reddish black to blackish with a dull red tint. Cephalic sculpture is distinctly disorganized rather than regular. Usually on the dorsum of the head there is a broad area of wavy or markedly irregular rugulae on each side of, and converging medially on, a longitudinal strip of more obviously parallel rugulae at the centre of the dorsum. The petiole node is short and wide in dorsal view, distinctly much broader than long and the node very obviously much broader than the posterior petiolar peduncle. In contrast fortior workers are much lighter in colour and more glossy, being orange-red to shiny dark red. On the head the sculpture everywhere consists of regular fine dense and strikingly parallel longitudinal costulae which run in a fore-and-aft direction across the entire width of the dorsum. (There are some rare exceptions, noted under fortior.) The petiole node is narrower and more gracile in dorsal view, usually scarcely broader than the posterior petiolar peduncle.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Kenya, Lesotho, South Africa.

Nomenclature

 *  weitzeckeri. Ocymyrmex weitzeckeri Emery, 1892a: 116 (footnote) (w.) LESOTHO. Arnold, 1916: 197 (m.); Bolton, 1981b: 280 (q.). Senior synonym of wroughtoni: Bolton, 1981b: 280. See also: Bolton & Marsh, 1989: 1306.
 * wroughtoni. Ocymyrmex weitzeckeri subsp. wroughtoni Forel, 1910f: 13 (w.m.) SOUTH AFRICA. Junior synonym of weitzeckeri: Bolton, 1981b: 280.