Genus Oecophylla F.Smith (1860b: 101)
A monogeneric tribe OECOPHYLLINI.
The genus definition by F Smith (1860b) is at
 .
Note that Smith notes F. virescens as found in "Australia
and South Africa". |
What one might call the traditional view of the genus is as
follows -
Colloquially known as weaver ants. There is only one species in
Africa, another, Oecophylla smaragdina Fabricius (1775:
828), is found in Asia and Australasia. Wheeler (1922: 227) gave
simple criteria for separating the two species as - |
|
Oecophylla
smaragdina with the petiole very slender, its stigmata
seen from above very prominent, its ventral surface nearly
straight or very feebly convex in profile.
|
Oecophylla
longinoda has a stouter and higher petiole, with the
stigmata not prominent from above, and the ventral surface strongly
convex in profile. |
|
The petiole differences are clear and the alitrunk is more domed
in smaragdina (compare also the drawing from Emery,
1925b). |
The reality is that both the Asian-Australasian and
African populations of Oecophylla genus members appear to be
made up of more than one and possibly several species. My concern
here, however, is with the African species and it is for someone
else to tackle the Asian-Australasian members.
The African situation, therefore is set out on the
"Oecophylla
longinoda" variability page
|
