Dilobocondyla gaoyureni

Known from a single record, from one of Guangdong’s most intact lowland tropical forests (Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden 2003).

Identification
Bharti and Kumar (2013) - In Dilobocondyla borneensis, Dilobocondyla didita, Dilobocondyla eguchii, Dilobocondyla karnyi, Dilobocondyla propotriangulata, Dilobocondyla sebesiana and Dilobocondyla yamanei the frontal carinae do not continue to the posterior corners of the head, but D. gaoyureni can be separated from these by the following combination of features: presence of 13 strong rugae between the frontal carinae at the level of eyes; mandibles with 3-4 hairs; gaster reticulate; petiole length (PTL) 0.64 mm, abundant long and subdecumbent pilosity; and head and gaster blackish-brown in colour. Dilobocondyla gaoyureni is especially similar to D. propotriangulata in having frontal carinae not prominent, antennal scrobes moderately deep and gaster reticulate, and in overall body sculpture and coloration. However, it can be easily distinguished from the latter on the basis of the following characters: 13 (vs 14) strong rugae between frontal carinae at the level of eyes; the clypeus with 5 (vs 3) strong carinae; and propodeal lobes rounded (vs broadly triangular with rounded apices). Apart from distinct morphometry, other significant differences from D. propotriangulata include the body with subdecumbent hairs (vs stiff and erect) and interrugal space punctured and subopaque (vs shiny).

The species can be distinguished from Dilobocondyla fouqueti by the acutely angled posterior head corners, relatively lower petiolar dorsum, distinct micro-reticulations on the gaster, and the lighter body color. It also can be distinguished from Dilobocondyla rufida by the acutely angled posterior head corners, relatively longer petiole, and the lighter body color (Chen, Li & Zhou, 2019).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  gaoyureni. Dilobocondyla gaoyureni Bharti & Kumar, 2013: 32, figs. 5-7 (w.) CHINA.

Worker
(Holotype): HL 1.17; HW 1.17; ED 0.30; SL 0.75; MFC 0.55; PRNW 0.86; ML 1.66; PTL 0.64; PTW 0.28; PTH 0.26; PPTL 0.51; PPTW 0.40; PPTH 0.40; GL 1.31; CI 100.00; SI 64.10; PTWI 43.75; PPTWI 78.43; TL 5.29 (1 measured)

Head as long as broad, slightly broader posteriorly than in front, sides almost straight, posterior head margin broadly emarginate; posterior corners acutely dentate and directed outward; mandible with 6 teeth, masticatory margin of mandibles with large apical and preapical tooth; clypeus flat, anterior border emarginate with a clear notch in the middle, sinuate at the corners; frontal area triangular, longer than broad; 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 slightly below midlength of the head; mesosoma not broader than head; pro-mesonotal dorsum convex, pro-mesonotal suture indistinct; pronotum width almost 2 times its length, its anterior lateral angles acute; metanotal groove constricted, broad, deep; dorsal face of propodeum slightly longer than declivitous part, declivity concave; propodeal lobes rounded; petiole length much (2.3 times) greater than width, with rounded sides, slender, 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, with 13 strong rugae between frontal carinae at the level of eyes; occiput and sides rugoreticulate, interrugal space punctured and sub-opaque; frontal carinae divergent, not continued to the posterior corners of the head; antennal scrobes moderately deep; mandibles longitudinally rugose; clypeus with a strong median and four lateral carinae, few rugulae on its posterior portion, interrugal space punctured and subopaque; frontal triangle subopaque and finely punctate; mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole strongly rugoreticulate and shiny; meso-metapleuron weakly longitudinally rugose and shiny; propodeal declivity smooth and shiny; gaster finely and densely reticulate, basal part longitudinally rugose with interrugal space sub-opaque; coxae of legs strongly punctured, femora smooth and tibiae faintly punctured.

Head and gaster blackish brown; posterior lobes of head, mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole ferruginous; mandibles, antennae and legs light yellowish brown. Whole body covered with abundant, long, subdecumbent whitish pilosity except mandibles, which each have 3-4 hairs only.

Etymology
At the request of the collector Dr John Fellowes the species is named in honour of the late Dr Gao Yuren of South China Institute of Endangered Animals, a well-loved champion of the threatened wildlife of South China.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bharti H., and R. Kumar. 2013. Five new species of Dilobocondyla (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with a revised key to the known species. Asian Myrmecology 5: 29-44.
 * 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.