Odontophotopsis acmaea Viereck, 1904

Boehme, Nicole F., Tanner, David A., Williams, Kevin A. & Pitts, James P., 2012, Faunal study of velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) and their activity patterns and habitat preference at Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Nye County, Nevada, USA, Zootaxa 3587, pp. 1-45 : 15

Odontophotopsis acmaea Viereck, 1904

( Fig. 2 )

Odontophotopsis acmaeus Viereck, 1904: 84 ,

3. Lectotype (designated here): Arizona (NMNH).

Odontophotopsis (Odontophotopsis) grata Schuster (nec Melander, nec Schuster 1958 p. 53, 57, 58), 1958: 55, 3.

Diagnosis. MALE. This species is recognized by having the following combination of characters: the mandible excised ventrally forming an angle, but does not taper towards the apex, the apex of the mandible is slightly dilated (see Pitts et al. 2010a: Fig. 3 ), the mesosternum has a pair of large distinct spines that have a posterior face that is longitudinally sulcate and have an apex that is bifid, the metasternum is bidentate, and the pygidium is granulate, but not defined laterally by carinae. Genitalia are illustrated in Fig. 2 . FEMALE. Unknown.

Material examined. Type material. Lectotype of O. acmaeus : Arizona, Type no. 6994 ( NMNH) . Other material. Nevada, Nye Co., AMNWR: Non-dune site 1: 1 ♂, LT, 26–28.V.2009, NFB ; Non-dune site 2: 3 ♂, LT, 26–28.V.2009, NFB ; Non-dune site 3: 7 ♂, LT, 26–28.V.2009, NFB ; Non-dune site 4: 4 ♂, LT, 26–28.V.2009, NFB, 1 ♂, LT, 8–15.VI.2009, NFB & DAT ; Sand dune site 1: 1 ♂, LT, 12–14.V.2009, 43 ♂, LT, 26–28.V.2009, NFB, 6 ♂, LT, 8–15.VI.2009, NFB & DAT, 2 ♂, LT, 23–25.VI.2009, 1 ♂, LT, 4–6.IX.2009, NFB ; Sand dune site 2: 1 ♂, LT, 12–14.V.2009, 9 ♂, LT, 26–28.V.2009, 1 ♂, LT, 21–23.VII.2009, NFB ; Sand dune site 3: 7 ♂, LT, 26–28.V.2009, NFB, 2 ♂, LT, 8–15.VI.2009, NFB & DAT ; Sand dune site 4: 4 ♂, LT, 26–28.V.2009, NFB, 9 ♂, LT, 8–15.VI.2009, NFB & DAT, 5 ♂, LT, 23–25.VI.2009, NFB ; Sand dune site 5: 1 ♂, LT, 24.VI.2008, NFB, DAT & JPP, 3 ♂, LT, 26–28.V.2009, 1 ♂, LT, 21–23.VII.2009, NFB ; Non-dune site 5: 1 ♂, LT, 13.VI.2008, NFB & DAT, 10 ♂, LT, 26–28.V.2009, NFB, 1 ♂, LT, 8–15.VI.2009, NFB & DAT, 1 ♂, LT, 21–23.VII.2009, NFB ; Copeland site: 1 ♂, LT, 14. V.2008, 3 ♂, LT, 30. V.2008, 1 ♂, LT, 13.VI.2008, NFB & DAT.

Distribution. USA (Arizona, California and Nevada), Mexico (Sonora).

Activity. Males were active from mid-spring through early summer (May through July).

Remarks. Odontophotopsis acmaea were distributed uniformly over sand dune and non-dune habitats (U=20, p=0.2). One hundred thirty O. acmaea males were collected from May through early September at light traps. Odontophotopsis acmaea was not found at the NTS. Pitts et al. (2009) discuss the confusion caused by Schuster (1958) concerning this species.

For this study we have designated a lectotype from the available syntypes. We selected the lectotype from the only specimen available. The label data are as follows [Ariz 2304] [♂ Type no. 6994 USNM]. The genitalia are extracted and in a vial beneath the specimen.

Figures

FIGURES 2 – 11. Male genitalia. 2. Odontophotopsis acmaea: dorsal view (left) and internal view (right); 3. O. armata: dorsal view and lateral view of cuspis (inset); 4. O. bellona: dorsal view; 5. O. mamata: dorsal view and lateral view of cuspis (inset); 6. O. microdonta: dorsal view (right) and ventral view (left); 7. O. piute: dorsal view; 8. O. serca: dorsal view and lateral view of cuspis (inset); 9. Sphaeropthalma nana: internal view; 10. S. orestes: dorsal view (left) and ventral view (right); and 11. S. parkeri: dorsal view (left) and ventral view (right).