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.

Key to Ocymyrmex workers

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.

Worker
Bolton (1981) - TL 6.8-7.8, HL 1.70-1.80, HW 1.62-1.72, CI 94-99, SL 1.44-1.58, SI 88-94, PW 1.02-1.10, AL 2.16-2.30 (8 measured).

Anterior clypeal margin with a conspicuous semicircular median impression flanked by a pair of short teeth. Occipital margin in full-face view with a median indentation. Maximum diameter of eyes 0.36-0.40, about 0.22-0.23 x HW. Promesonotum evenly convex in profile, the propodeal dorsum flat to very shallowly convex, rounding evenly into the declivity which is almost vertical. Metapleural lobes small but prominent, their apices narrowly rounded. Petiole in profile. Petiole node in dorsal view very broad, distinctly broader than long and its width greater than the distance from the spiracle to the apex of the collar where the petiole articulates with the postpetiole. Postpetiole node in dorsal view broader than long (excluding the anterior articulating portion). Base of first gastral tergite strongly constricted behind the postpetiole and forming a distinct neck. Head finely and densely rugulose everywhere, with punctulate or granular ground-sculpture. Pattern of the rugulae varying between individuals. On the dorsum from the level of the eyes to the occiput the rugulae never all running straight back. Either the rugulae away from the median strip diverge towards the occipital corners, or the rugulae close to the inner or posterior margins of the eyes are irregular to vermiculate; in some the rugulae are extensively vermiculate on the head. Dorsal alitrunk and propodeal declivity transversely rugose except for the area between the mesothoracic spiracles where the sculpture is longitudinal. Other components of the pronotal sculpture arch around the anterior end of these longitudinal rugae. In some workers the pronotum appears to be entirely longitudinally rugose in dorsal view as the median rugae extend so far forward that the more laterally situated rugae must parallel them almost to the cervical shield before arching round. Petiole with a few transverse rugae ventrally which may extend for some distance up the sides; the node with a few weak to vestigial transverse rugulae, those traversing the peduncle in front of the node stronger than those on the node itself. Postpetiole unsculptured except for the usual faint superficial patterning. All dorsal surfaces of head and body with fairly dense pilosity, the hairs of varying length; those on the first gastral tergite shorter and sparser than elsewhere on the body. Colour everywhere dark red to blackish red, in some specimens very dark indeed, almost entirely black.

Type Material
Bolton (1981):

Syntype workers, Lesotho: Leribe (Weitzecker) [examined].

Ocymyrmex weitzeckeri subsp. wroughtoni Syntype workers, male, South Africa: Natal (Wroughton) [examined].