Dilobocondyla chapmani

The three type specimens were found "nesting in the branck of a living tree."

Identification
Wheeler 1924 (the keys listed below, published in 2013 and 2019, include D. chapmani and other Dilobocondyla described after 1924) - This form is very close to Stitz's Dilobocondyla cataulacoidea and the two varieties fulva (in 2021: Dilobocondyla fulva) and concolor (in 2021: a synonym of D. cataulacoidea) described by Viehmeyer, but it is certainly distinct in many details of structure. The external borders of the mandibles of Dilobocondyla chapmani are not sinuate, it has a distinct frontal area, a longer pronotum, more nearly straight dorsal thoracic profile, more angular epinotum and postpetiole and there are numerous differences in sculpture.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Philippines.

Nomenclature

 * . Dilobocondyla chapmani Wheeler, W.M. 1924b: 250 (w.) PHILIPPINES (Negros I.).
 * Type-material: 3 syntype workers.
 * Type-locality: Philippines: Negros Oriental, Dumaguete (J.W. Chapman).
 * Type-depository: MCZC.
 * Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1954c: 128 (l.).
 * Status as species: Chapman & Capco, 1951: 116; Baltazar, 1966: 254; Bolton, 1995b: 171; Varghese, 2006a: 24; Zettel & Bruckner, 2013: 137; Chen, et al. 2019: 138 (in key).
 * Distribution: Philippines (Cebu, Mindanao, Negros).

Worker
Worker. Length 3.2 - 3.5 mm.

Head very slightly longer than broad, somewhat broader behind than in front, with acute projecting posterior corners and moderately large, rather convex eyes, placed just in front of the middle of the sides. Mandibles with two large apical and three or four smaller and more indistinct basal teeth, the external borders convex, not sinuate. Clypeus convex behind in the middle, flattened in front, its anterior border straight and uneven, but entire. Frontal area distinct, triangular, longer than broad, frontal carinae very strong, diverging behind, reaching the posterior corners of the head and forming the inner borders of deep scrobes for the antennae. The curvature of the frontal carinae is much like that of Dilobocondyla cataulacoidea. Antennae short, scapes curved at the base, their tips reaching only one third the distance between the eyes and the posterior corners of the head; joints 2-8 of the funiculi distinctly broader than long, two basal joints of club subequal, longer than broad, together equal to the terminal joint, the whole club being about. as long as the remainder of the funiculus. Thorax shaped very much as in D. cataulacoidea but without traces of the promesonotal and mesoepinotal sutures and with only a very faint impression in the mesoepinotal region, so that the dorsal outline is nearly straight and uninterrrupted 'in profile. The epinotum has a subequal base and declivity, meeting at a rounded angle. The pronotum from above is nearly as long as broad (broader in D. cataulacoidea) and the humeral angles are small and rather acute. Metasternal angles prominent, lamellate and rounded. Petiole cylindrical, from above parallel-sided, twice as long as broad, in profile arcuate and furnished with a pronounced anteroventral tooth, which is directed forward. Postpetiole about half again as broad as the petiole, slightly longer than broad, a little broader behind than in front, with a distinct bluntly angular node, so that the height of the segment in the middle is equal to its length. Its anteroventral border bears a small acute tooth. Gaster nearly circular, somewhat lenticular, smaller than the head. Femora much thickened beyond their basal halves, tibiae less incrassated.

Shining; gaster opaque; mandibles sharply longitudinally striate; head strongly rugose, longitudinally on the front, reticulately on the occipital region. The rugae between the frontal carinae number about 17 and are strong and regular, sometimes bifurcating posteriorly. The spaces between them are densely punctate or reticulate. Scrobes densely punctate; rugae on the cheeks and sides of head finer than on the front and though longitudinal connected by cross rugules. Thorax densely and vermiculately rugulose on the pro- and mesonotum, more loosely and coarsely on the base of the epinotum, the declivity of the latter smooth and shining. Petiole and postpetiole reticulate-rugose, the rugae distinctly longitudinal. Gaster very densely and finely punctate, its extreme base with fine radiating striae. Femora smooth and shining, knees and tibiae subopaque, finely and densely reticulate, smoother on their flexor surfaces.

Hairs white, erect, short, obtuse, rather uniformly distributed over the body, scapes and legs, as long on the appendages as on the body.

Ferruginous; anterior portion of head, clypeus, scapes, mandibles and segments of gaster beyond the first, yellow. Mandibular teeth black; funiculi, except the basal joint, dark brown; legs somewhat paler brown, the middle portions of the femora and tibiae more reddish.

Type Material
Described from three specimens taken by Dr. J.W. Chapman at Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines. They were nesting in the branch of a living tree.