Dilobocondyla rufida

The type series of this species was found nesting in a small dead twig of Rhododendron henryi (Chen, Li & Zhou, 2019).

Identification
The new species is close to Dilobocondyla fouqueti Santschi, but can be distinguished from the latter by the relatively shorter petiole and more convex dorsum, distinct micro-reticulations on the gaster, and black colored mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole, and lightly colored gaster. The new species is also similar to Dilobocondyla gaoyureni Bharti & Kumar, but distinguishable from the latter by the relatively shorter petiole and strongly convex dorsum, weakly depressed metanotal groove, bluntly angled posterior head corners, and black colored head, mesosoma and waist segments.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  rufida. Dilobocondyla rufida Chen, Li & Zhou, 2019: 135, figs. 7-12 (w.q.) CHINA.

Taxonomic Notes
The body color pattern of the genus seems to be relatively unstable by examining the specimens and AntWeb’s pictures. All known species can be classified roughly into “concolor” and obviously “bicolor” groups. The former group consists of 12 species and subspecies, Dilobocondyla bangalorica, Dilobocondyla borneensis, Dilobocondyla chapmani, Dilobocondyla didita, Dilobocondyla fulva, Dilobocondyla oswini, Dilobocondyla sebesiana, Dilobocondyla selebensis, Dilobocondyla selebensis simalurana, Dilobocondyla silviae, Dilobocondyla rufobrunnea, Dilobocondyla yamanei. And the latter group consists of 9 species, Dilobocondyla cataulacoidea, Dilobocondyla carinata, Dilobocondyla eguchii, Dilobocondyla fouqueti, Dilobocondyla gaoyureni, Dilobocondyla gasteroreticulata, Dilobocondyla karnyi, Dilobocondyla propotriangulata, Dilobocondyla rugosa. In the known bicolor species, the gaster is usually lighter than the head, or the same color as the head. D. rufida can be classified into the “bicolor” groups and can be distinguished from the other species of Dilobocondyla by its black colored mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole, and reddish brown graster (Chen, Li & Zhou, 2019).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Chen Z., W. Li, and S. Zhou. 2019. Taxonomic review of the ant genus Dilobocondyla from China (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), with a revised key to the known species. Zoological Systematics 44(2): 132–139.