Odontophotopsis sonora Schuster, 1958

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 : 24

Odontophotopsis sonora Schuster, 1958

Sphaeropthalma (Micromutilla) sonora Schuster, 1958: 16 ,

3. Holotype: Arizona, Tucson (UMSP).

Diagnosis. MALE. This species can be recognized by the lack of a tooth on the ventral margin of the mandible, the mandibular apex is tridentate and oblique (see Pitts 2007: Fig. 32), and by the clypeus being elongate and projecting over the dorsal margins of the mandibles. Also, this species lacks mesosternal armature, even though it is placed in the genus Odontophotopsis . Genitalia are illustrated by Pitts et al. (2009: Figs 20, 21). FEMALE. Unknown, but will possibly be similar to the females of the O. melicausa species-group based on male morphology.

Material examined. Type material. Holotype of S. sonora : Arizona, Tucson, 10 Sep 1935. Bryant ( UMSP) . Other material. Nevada, Nye Co., AMNWR: Non-dune site 4: 3 ♂, LT, 8–15.VI.2009, NFB & DAT, 2 ♂, LT, 23–25.VI.2009, 1 ♂, LT, 21–23.VII.2009, 1 ♂, LT, 17–19.VIII.2009, NFB ; Sand dune site 1: 7 ♂, LT, 26–28.V.2009, NFB, 4 ♂, LT, 8–15.VI.2009, NFB & DAT, 1 ♂, LT, 23–25.VI.2009, 4 ♂, LT, 21–23.VII.2009, 1 ♂, LT, 17–19.VIII.2009, NFB ; Sand dune site 2: 1 ♂, LT, 26–28.V.2009, NFB, 1 ♂, LT, 8–15.VI.2009, NFB & DAT, 1 ♂, LT, 21–23.VII.2009, NFB ; Sand dune site 3: 1 ♂, LT, 23–25.VI.2009, 4 ♂, LT, 21–23.VII.2009, NFB ; Sand dune site 4: 1 ♂, LT, 26–28.V.2009, NFB, 19 ♂, LT, 8–15.VI.2009, NFB & DAT, 10 ♂, LT, 23–25.VI.2009, 6 ♂, LT, 6–8.VII.2009, 21 ♂, LT, 21–23.VII.2009, 1 ♂, LT, 4–6.VIII.2009, 1 ♂, LT, 17–19.VIII.2009, 1 ♂, LT, 4–6.IX.2009, NFB ; Non-dune site 5: 2 ♂, LT, 26–28.V.2009, NFB, 1 ♂, LT, 8–15.VI.2009, NFB & DAT, 2 ♂, LT, 6–8.VII.2009, NFB ; Spring meadows site: 1 ♂, PT, 26.VI.2008, NFB, DAT & JPP, 1 ♂, PT, 24.VII.2008, NFB & DAT, 4 ♂, PT, 5. VIII.2008, 3 ♂, PT, 2–3.IX.2008, NFB.

Distribution. USA (Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah).

Activity. Males were active from late spring through late summer (late May through early September).

Remarks. Odontophotopsis sonora were distributed uniformly over sand dune and non-dune habitats (U=18, p>0.2). One hundred six O. sonora males were collected from late May through early September at light traps. One hundred thirty-six O. sonora males were found at the NTS from June to August via pan trapping, light trapping and net collecting ( Ferguson 1967, Allred 1973).