Ocymyrmex velox Santschi

Bolton, B., 1981, A revision of six minor genera of Myrmicinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Ethiopian zoogeographical region., Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomology 43, pp. 245-307 : 280

Ocymyrmex velox Santschi

(Fig. 32)

Ocymyrmex velox Santschi , 1932: 387. Syntype workers, South West Africa: Otjimbimbi, Kunene R., iii. 1923 (G. Arnold) (NM, Basle; NM, Bulawayo) [examined].

Worker. TL 10.0 - 10.7, HL 2.20 - 2.40, HW 2.08 - 2.30, CI 95 - 97, SL 2.10 - 2.29, SI 101 - 105, PW 1.30 - 1.42, AL 2.48 - 2.96 (8 measured).

Large species; anterior clypeal margin entire or very feebly eroded medially giving a weakly crenellated appearance, without a median semicircular impression. Maximum diameter of eyes 0.40 - 0.43, about 0.19 0.20 x HW. Frontal lobes distinctly convergent posteriorly, the occipital margin indented medially in full-face view. Antennal scapes relatively long, SI above. Promesonotum forming an even low convexity in profile which may be somewhat flattened above in some individuals. Propodeal dorsum more or less flat, usually sloping shallowly downwards posteriorly to the evenly rounded junction with the declivity; the alitrunk not saddle-shaped. Metapleural lobes low and rounded. Petiole node relatively large in profile, high, dome-like and evenly rounded, the anterior peduncle without a ventral process. In dorsal view the petiole node longer than broad. Postpetiole in dorsal view slightly broader than long. Base of first gastral tergite in dorsal view not forming a narrow bottle-neck-like constriction. The tergite basally is no wider than the postpetiole but the sides diverge evenly from immediately behind the articulation. Sculpture of head very feeble, faint and even effaced in places, at most consisting of a few weak and superficial irregular rugulae. Ground-sculpture where present only of a weak superficial patterning or shagreening. Dorsal alitrunk transversely rugulose, with or without a patch of longitudinal sculpture on the pronotum and between the mesothoracic spiracles. Rugulae on the propodeal dorsum may be irregular or broken. Petiole and postpetiole dorsally only with superficial patterning, or the former with faint rugular vestiges. Ventral surface of petiole with weak transverse rugulae which may extend up the sides of the node and onto the dorsum, but these are vestigial in some individuals. Dorsal surfaces of head and alitrunk with hairs but these are very rare or even absent on the first gastral tergite. Alitrunk dull red to blackish red, the head a lighter red and the gaster lighter still, orange or even yellow in some individuals.