Dilobocondyla silviae

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Zettel and Bruckner (2013) - Worker: Blackish brown; scape and distal tarsomeres yellow. Posterior margin of head concave. Frontal carinae strong, reaching posterior corners of head. Sculpture of head and mesosoma moderately coarse; interspaces mostly reticulated and matt. Petiole slender, PtI 191 - 195.

This species is very similar to Dilobocondyla chapmani sensu lato in most characteristics, but immediately distinguishable by blackish colour, small size, a very distinct micro-reticulum on the dorsum of the mesosoma, and by slightly smaller PtI (191 - 195 vs. 202 - 210). It can be distinguished from small specimens of the D. chapmani complex (see notes above) by a very different form of the propodeum, which is not compressed.

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

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  silviae. Dilobocondyla silviae Zettel & Bruckner, 2013: 138, figs. 2, 8, 14 (w.) PHILIPPINES.

Worker
Holotype: TL 3.91; HW 1.01; HL 1.07; CI 94; SL 0.61; SI 60; PnW 0.68; PtL 0.41; PtH 0.20; PtW 0.21; PtI 195; PpL 0.31; PpH 0.30; PpW 0.31. Paratype: TL 4.06; HW 1.08; HL 1.17; CI 92; SL 0.68; SI 63; PnW 0.76; PtL 0.42; PtH 0.21; PtW 0.22; PtI 191; PpL 0.34; PpH 0.31; PpW 0.33.

Colour: Body uniformly blackish brown. Mandibles medium brown. Antennae chiefly brown; scape and base of funiculus yellow. Legs brown; trochanters, bases of femora, and distal tarsomeres pale.

Structures: Head dorsally with almost regular striation and very few interconnections posteriorly, interspaces filled with dense micro-reticulum; sides of head with reticulated rugae. Posterior margin of head concave; hind corners angular. Frontal carinae and antennal scrobes reaching hind corners. Clypeus with numerous longitudinal rugae; interspaces with reduced micro-reticulum, shiny.

Mesosoma entirely reticulated; rugae forming moderately large meshes; an imaginary line between pronotal corners transecting 12 meshes; interspaces shiny laterally, but micro-reticulated dorsally. Petiole and postpetiole with micro-reticulum that is strongly reduced on petiole posterodorsally and laterally. Petiole posterodorsally and laterally with coarse irregular rugae, slender; its dorsal outline in lateral view almost evenly convex, but slightly concave before hind margin; anteroventral tooth spine-like, slender. Postpetiole in lateral aspect with broadly rounded apex; both anterodorsal and posterodorsal surface with longitudinal rugae. Gaster tergite 1 at base with very dense fine striation distinctly longer than longest seta on postpetiole.

Etymology
This species is dedicated to the second author’s wife.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Zettel H., and H. Bruckner. 2013. Four new species of Dilobocondyla (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Philippines. Zeitschrift der Arbeitsgemeinschaft Österreichischer Entomologen 65: 135-150.