Diacamma viridipurpureum quezonicum

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Laciny et al. (2015) - Large species (TL 12.6–14.2 mm). Trunk with relatively strong bluish shimmer. Mandibles, antennae and legs dark brown to black. Erect setae abundant; fine pilosity well developed. Trunk strongly striate from genae to gaster tergite 1. Head moderately long, sides posteriorly of eye strongly convex. Posterior of head longitudinally striate until narrowly truncated hind margin; occipital margin ventrally terminating in short, blunt teeth. Eyes rather small. Clypeus with very fine puncturation at base, becoming sparse anteriorly; apex medially rounded or bluntly angled. Mandible with fine striation. Pronotum with transverse-elliptical rugae. Striation on propodeum sides upcurved. Petiole very stout, its teeth moderately short; subpetiolar process strongly concave between acute anterior and posterior corners, with rather long, oblique pilosity. Gaster tergite 1 with coarse semi1-circular striation.

Besides the vivid blue colour that immediately distinguishes D. v. quezonicum from Diacamma viridipurpureum, specimens of the two taxa are extremely similar, so that we decided to give them subspecific rank only. In addition to colour there are slight differences in surface structures and morphometry. In most, but not all specimens of quezonicum the clypeus has a shallow subapical impression, which we never observed in viridipurpureum or the other related taxa (Diacamma generali, Diacamma caeruleum, Diacamma carbonarium). The ventral side of the head is completely striate in quezonicum, but this striation is more or less reduced in the anterior middle part in viridipurpureum. There are also slight differences in length and distance of petiolar spines, but these characters are quite variable in both subspecies and in other Diacamma species as well.

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

Nomenclature

 *  quezonicum. Diacamma viridipurpureum quezonicum Laciny, Pal & Zettel, 2015: 122, figs. 48-51, 56, 62, 63 (w.) PHILIPPINES (Luzon I.).
 * Subspecies of viridipurpureum: Zettel, et al. 2016: 167.

Worker
Holotype: TL 13.70; HW 2.38; HL 3.13; EL 0.65; SL 3.33; PH 2.00; PL 1.33; PW 1.37; SpD 0.64; SpL 0.38; WL 4.73; MTL 2.66. Indices: CI 76; SI 140; PI 66; SpDI 48; SpLI 29; EI 27. Measurements of paratypes (n = 10): TL 12.59–14.15; HW 2.25–2.43; HL 2.93–3.23; EL 0.63–0.70; SL 3.20–3.49; PH 1.87–2.04; PL 1.20–1.35; PW 0.89–1.02; SpD 0.60–0.74; SpL 0.38–0.45; WL 4.43–4.73; MTL 2.51–2.71. Indices: CI 75–79; SI 139–145; PI 62–68; SpDI 46–53; SpLI 30–33; EI 26–28.

Structures: As in Diacamma viridipurpureum except for the following characters: Ventral side of the head completely striate. Clypeus (Fig. 50) more distinctly punctured at base and anteriorly less reduced, only in some specimens medially without any punctures, in most specimens just behind apex with shallow depression; apex rather variable from rounded to bluntly angled. Striation on propodeum sides upcurved, but curvature often not as strong as in D. v. viridipurpureum. Petiolar spines on average longer and more distant than in D. v. viridipurpureum (SpDI 42–49 vs. 46–53; SpLI 17–33 vs. 29–33).

Pilosity: As in D. v. viridipurpureum, although the short pubescence tends to be slightly less developed.

Colour: Trunk with strong bluish shimmer; apex of gaster brown. Mandibles dark brown. Antennae and legs black; femora and tibiae with delicate bluish to purple shimmer; tarsi dark brown.

Type Material
Holotype (worker, PNMM, CASENT0915973), from Luzon, Quezon Province, Atimonan, Quezon National Park, Old Zigzag Road, 27–28.I.2002, leg. H. Zettel (#300). Paratypes (all from the same area): 12 worker, same label data as holotype; 1 worker (CZW), 12–13.II.1996, leg. H. Zettel (#79a); 7 workers (CZW), 24–30.III.1998, leg. H. Zettel (#165); 3 workers (CZW, NHMW), 16.III.1999, leg. H. Zettel (#202); 2 workers (CZW), 6.IV.2000, leg. H. Zettel (#253); 14 worker (CZW, NHMW, UPLB), 30–31.I.2001, leg. H. Zettel (#262); 1 worker (NHMW), 14.III.1999, leg. F. Seyfert (#27); 1 worker (NHMW), 22.XI.1992, leg. M.A. Jäch (#11).