Dilobocondyla eguchii

This species is collected from Da Lat City on the Langbiang Plateau in the southern parts of the central highlands, which has a mild climate: the mean monthly temperature extremes range from 13-22°C in January to 17-26°C in April-May (World Climate Guide 2012). The collection area (Vietnamese for "Valley of Love") is a highly-modified decorative floral garden.

Identification
Bharti and Kumar (2013) - As in D. eguchii the frontal carinae do not continue to the posterior corners of the head in Dilobocondyla borneensis, Dilobocondyla didita, Dilobocondyla gaoyureni, Dilobocondyla karnyi, Dilobocondyla propotriangulata, Dilobocondyla sebesiana and Dilobocondyla yamanei but D. eguchii can be separated from these by the following combination of features: the presence of 14 strong rugae between the frontal carinae at the level of eyes; abundant long, erect hairs on mandibles; much longer striations on the first segment of the gaster; petiole length (PTL) 0.53 mm; and brownish black body colour.

Dilobocondyla eguchii is most similar to Dilobocondyla borneensis, from which however it can be easily distinguished on the basis of the following combination of characters: presence of 14 (vs 10) strong rugae between frontal carinae at the level of the eyes; and gaster finely reticulate, sub-opaque, with first gastral tergite having fine and dense longitudinal striations starting from its base reaching up to almost half its length (at only the base in D. borneensis).

Other significant differences from D. borneensis include: posterior head margin non-emarginate (vs emarginate in borneensis); tibiae reticulate (vs finely longitudinally striate) and gaster with sparse pubescence (vs no pubescence).

Key to Dilobocondyla Species.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Vietnam.

Nomenclature

 *  eguchii. Dilobocondyla eguchii Bharti & Kumar, 2013: 30, figs. 1-4 (w.) VIETNAM.

Worker
(Holotype): HL 1.13; HW 1.07; ED 0.27; SL 0.69; MFC 0.49; PRNW 0.80; ML 1.57; PTL 0.53; PTW 0.27; PTH 0.25; PPTL 0.42; PPTW 0.38; PPTH 0.34; GL 1.19; CI 94.69; SI 64.49; PTWI 50.94; PPTWI 90.48; TL 4.84 (1 measured) Head a little longer than broad, slightly broader posteriorly than in front, sides almost straight, posterior head margin not emarginate; posterior corners minutely dentate; mandibles with 6 teeth, masticatory margin of mandibles with large apical, preapical and basal tooth; clypeus flat, anterior border emarginate with a clear notch in the middle, sinuate at the corners; frontal area  indistinct; 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 at midlength of the head; mesosoma convex, not broader than head; pro-mesonotal suture indistinct; pronotum broader than long, its anterior lateral angles acute; metanotal groove broad, not deep; dorsal face of propodeum almost equal to its declivity and slanting towards declivity, propodeal lobes rounded; petiole almost twice as long as broad, with rounded sides, arcuate in profile, 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 14 strong rugae between frontal carinae at the level of eyes; interrugal space punctured, sub-opaque; frontal carinae diverging, not continuing to the posterior corners of the head; antennal scrobes only moderately deep; mandibles longitudinally rugose, interrugal space smooth and shiny; clypeus rugulose, sub-opaque, with strong median and lateral carinae; mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole rugoreticulate and sub-opaque; meso-metapleuron longitudinally rugose except for smooth and shiny upper half of metapleuron; propodeal declivity smooth and shiny; gaster finely reticulate, sub-opaque, with first segment fine and dense longitudinal striations starting from its base reaching up to almost half of its length; legs subopaque and punctate.

Body brownish black; mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole with reddish tinge; mandibles, scape and trochanter yellowish brown. Whole body covered with abundant, erect, long, blunt, whitish pilosity, gaster with sparse pubescence.

Etymology
The species is named in honour of Dr Katsuyuki Eguchi who collected and generously donated it for the present study.