Cataulacus weissi

Cataulacus weissi appears to be restricted to rather densely wooded or forested areas. The female and male were first described by Forel (1916:427) from the myrmecophilous plant Randia myrmecophila de Wilde. (Bolton 1974)

Identification
A member of the tenuis group. This small species, although of the tenuis-group, resembles Cataulacus pygmaeus, from which it is separated by the form of the subpetiolar process, the consistently larger ocular index and the form of sculpture upon the petiole.

Distribution
Known from Congo and Ghana.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Congo, Ghana, Ivory Coast.

Nomenclature

 *  weissi. Cataulacus weissi Santschi, 1913c: 310 (w.) CONGO. Forel, 1916: 427 (q.m.). Subspecies of pygmaeus: Santschi, 1916b: 506; of lujae: Santschi, 1924b: 219. Revived status as species: Bolton, 1974a: 39. Senior synonym of plectroniae: Bolton, 1974a:  39; of aethiops: Bolton, 1982: 358.
 * plectroniae. Cataulacus traegaordhi var. plectroniae Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 199 (w.) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. Junior synonym of weissi: Bolton, 1974a: 39.
 * aethiops. Cataulacus jeanneli var. aethiops Santschi, 1924b: 220 (w.) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. Junior synonym of weissi: Bolton, 1982: 358.

Worker
Bolton (1974) - TL 3.3 – 3.6, HL 0.82 – 0.96, HW 0.74 – 0.86, CI 89 - 95, EL 0.40 – 0.46, OI 51 - 54, IOD 0.58 – 0.64, SL 0.40 – 0.50, SI 51 - 58, PW 0.60 – 0.70, AL 0.90 – 1.00, MTL 0.44 – 0.48 (5 measured).

Occipital crest absent, the two surfaces meeting through a continuous convexity. Occipital corners with a small tooth and with a second such upon the occipital margin close to them. Sides of head behind eyes denticulate. Pronotum marginate laterally, serially denticulate; the margins of the mesonotum and propodeum also with one or more denticles. Propodeum with a pair of short, acute spines. Dorsal ali trunk without sutures. Subpetiolar process complex, the posteroventral angle drawn out into a long heel or spur. Subpostpetiolar process well developed, digitiform, almost as long as the subpetiolar process. First gastral tergite not marginate laterally. Dorsum of head and alitrunk with a fine loose rugoreticulum, the interspaces reticulate-punctate, more strongly so upon the alitrunk than upon the head. Petiole in dorsal view finely and regularly rugose, the rugae U- or V-shaped. First gastral tergite densely reticulate-punctate.

Simple stout, blunt hairs numerous everywhere, very conspicuous.

Queen
Bolton (1974) - TL 4.1, HL 0.94, HW 0.84, CI 90, EL 0.42, OI 50, IOD 0.64, SL 0.46, SI 55, PW 0.74, AL 1.20, MTL not measurable.

As worker but with the denticulation of the sides of the head behind the eyes reduced, and also that of the pronotal margins. Propodeal spines short and blunt. Subpetiolar process with the posteroventral angle not as strongly developed as in worker, but still prominent. Sculpturation similar to that of worker but the mesoscutum and scutellum distinctly and quite closely longitudinally rugose.

Type Material
Bolton (1974):

Holotype worker, CONGO: Brazzaville, 1907 (A. Weiss) (NM, Basle) [examined].

Cataulacus traegaordhi var. plectroniae Syntype workers, ZAIRE: Stanleyville, from cavities of Plectronia sp. (Lang &- Chapin) (MCZ, Boston).

Cataulacus jeanneli st. kenyensis Syntype workers, KENYA: Nairobi, st. 2, 1660 m, 1932-33 (C. Arambourg, P. A. Chappuis &- R. Jeannel) (NM, Basle) [examined].

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bolton B. 1974. A revision of the Palaeotropical arboreal ant genus Cataulacus F. Smith (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 30: 1-105.
 * Bolton B. 1982. Afrotropical species of the myrmicine ant genera Cardiocondyla, Leptothorax, Melissotarsus, Messor and Cataulacus (Formicidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 45: 307-370.
 * Santschi F. 1913. Glanures de fourmis africaines. Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique 57: 302-314.
 * Taylor B. 1979. Ants of the Nigerian Forest Zone (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). III. Myrmicinae (Cardiocondylini to Meranoplini). Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria Research Bulletin 6: 1-65.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1922. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. II. The ants collected by the American Museum Congo Expedition. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 45: 39-269.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1922. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. VIII. A synonymic list of the ants of the Ethiopian region. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 45: 711-1004