Tetramorium weitzeckeri

Bolton, B., 1979, The ant tribe Tetramoriini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The genus Tetramorium Mayr in the Malagasy region and in the New World., Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomology 38, pp. 129-181 : 139-140

The weitzeckeri -group

Antennae with 11 segments, the sting appendage spatulate. Mandibular sculpture varying from strongly longitudinally striate to absolutely smooth. Nodes of petiole and postpetiole unsculptured, at least the petiole tending to be anteroposteriorly compressed, strongly squamiform in some species. More rarely the postpetiole also squamiform.

The weitzeckeri-group is the commonest group of species with 11 - merous antennae in the Ethiopian region, where about 13 species are present. Four endemic species of this group are known from Madagascar and an African species, humbloti , is known from the Comoro Islands but has not yet been recorded from Madagascar proper. These five species fall into two close species-pairs and a solitary, less easily accounted for species. The first pair, bessoni and humbloti , have the alitrunk rounded transversely above, with very reduced pilosity and sculpture. The second pair, dysalum and marginatum , have the alitrunk flat transversely above and the sides strongly marginate. The final species, steinheili , is a much larger and more robust form which in many respects approaches the tortuosum-group.