Dilobocondyla propotriangulata

This species is known from a single record in evergreen forest at quite low altitude (400m).

Identification
Bharti and Kumar (2013) - The unique character of this species is the presence of broadly triangular propodeal lobes with rounded apices, while in the rest of the Dilobocondyla species reported or treated hitherto they are rounded in shape. In Dilobocondyla borneensis, Dilobocondyla didita, Dilobocondyla eguchii, Dilobocondyla gaoyureni, Dilobocondyla karnyi, Dilobocondyla sebesiana and Dilobocondyla yamanei too, the frontal carinae do not continue to the posterior corners of the head, but D. propotriangulata can be separated from these by the following combination of characters. The presence of 14 strong rugae between the frontal carinae at the level of eyes separate it from D. borneensis and D. yamanei, which have 10 and 9 rugae respectively. The restriction of longitudinal rugae to the basal part of the gaster, and the ferruginous colour of the body, distinguish it from D. eguchii, whose first gastral tergite has fine and dense longitudinal striations reaching almost half of its length, and whose body is brownish black. The strong median and lateral carinae on the clypeus, the rugoreticulate mesopleurae and the shiny body of D. propotriangulata separate it from D. karnyi whose clypeus has a delicate median and two lateral carinae, no sculpture on the mesopleurae and an opaque body. From D. didita it can be separated by the shorter frontal carinae, not quite reaching the posterior quarter of the head, whereas in D. didita the frontal carinae almost reaches the posterior corners of the head.

Key to Dilobocondyla Species.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Vietnam.

Nomenclature

 *  propotriangulata. Dilobocondyla propotriangulatus Bharti & Kumar, 2013: 36, figs. 15-17 (w.) VIETNAM.

Worker
(Holotype): HL 1.09; HW 1.07; ED 0.30; SL 0.67; MFC 0.45; PRNW 0.81; ML 1.62; PTL 0.61; PTW 0.24; PTH 0.24; PPTL 0.46; PPTW 0.35; PPTH 0.35; GL 1.21; CI 98.17; SI 62.62; PTWI 39.34; PPTWI 76.09; TL 4.99 (1 measured)

Head almost as long as broad, slightly broader posteriorly than in front, sides slightly convex, posterior head margin broadly emarginate; posterior corners acutely dentate and directed outward; mandibles with 6 teeth, masticatory margin of mandibles with large apical and preapical tooth; clypeus flat, anterior border emarginate with a clear notch in the middle, sinuate at the corners; frontal area triangular, longer than broad; antennae slender, 12-segmented with distinct 3-segmented club; scape slender, curved at the base, reaching up to 3/4 of head length; eyes large, placed slightly below midlength of the head; mesosoma not broader than head; pro-mesonotal dorsum convex, pro-mesonotal suture indistinct; pronotum breadth almost 2 times its length, its anterior lateral angles acute; metanotal groove highly constricted, broad, deep; dorsal face of propodeum slightly convex and horizontal, basal part longer than declivitous part, declivity concave; propodeal lobes broadly triangular with rounded apex; petiole length much longer than (2.5 times) its breadth, with rounded sides, slender, with a strong antero-ventral tooth; postpetiole longer than broad, broader posteriorly and forming a node; gaster broadly oval in dorsal view; legs with femora strongly incrassate and tibiae slightly thickened.

Head longitudinally rugose, occiput and sides rugoreticulate, with roughly 14 strong rugae between frontal carinae at the level of eyes; interrugal space punctured, somewhat shiny; frontal carinae diverging, not continuing to the posterior corners of the head; antennal scrobes only moderately deep; mandibles longitudinally rugose; clypeus with a strong median and two lateral carinae with few rugulae posteriorly, interrugal space smooth and shiny; frontal triangle sub-opaque, finely punctate; mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole strongly rugoreticulate and shiny; meso-metapleuron rugoreticulate but weakly sculptured, smooth and shiny; propodeal declivity smooth and shiny; gaster finely and densely reticulate, basal part having longitudinal rugae with interrugal space smooth and shiny; coxae with prominent punctures, femora and tibiae finely punctured.

Head, mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole ferruginous with middle of the head dark brown; mandibles, antennae and legs light yellowish brown, gaster brownish black. Whole body covered with abundant, long, stiff, erect and whitish pilosity.

Etymology
The species is named as propodeal lobes are broadly triangular with rounded apices.