Sphaeropthalma becki Ferguson

Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A. & Boehme, Nicole F., 2009, Velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of the Algodones sand dunes of California, USA, Zootaxa 2131, pp. 1-53 : 37

Sphaeropthalma becki Ferguson

Sphaeropthalma (Micromutilla) becki Ferguson, 1967 . Brigham Young Univ. Sci. Bull. Biol. Ser. 8: 9. Male. Holotype data: Hillside, 0.85 mi NNW Mercury, Nye Co., Nevada, 23 Aug 1964, W.E. Ferguson (NMNH).

Diagnosis of male. This species has a deeply excised mandible with a tooth forming an oblique angle ( Fig. 45 ), lacks of mesosternal processes, has a marginal cell that is shorter than the stigma, has the first segment of the metasoma petiolate with the second segment, and has the genitalia with a short cylindrical cuspis ( Fig. 2 ). Plumose setae are weakly developed to absent along the margins of the metasomal tergites.

Female. Unknown.

Material examined. California, Imperial Co. : Algodones Dunes: Cahuilla Ranger Station, 1 male, 11–15.Sep.2007, R. Kimsey, L. Kimsey, and T.J. Zavortink ( UCDC); Niland-Glamis Rd., 7.4 km NW Glamis, 6 males, 3–30.May.2008, S. Heydon and K. Lorenzen ( UCDC), 1 male, 1–2.Jul.2008, 23.7 km NW Glamis, 2 males, 1.Jun.2008, Museum Survey Team ( UCDC); Wash Rd., 0.7 km W, Rail Road Post 168, 3 males, 18–22.Sep.2008, R. Kimsey and T. Zavortink ( UCDC); Wash Rd., 4.1 km SE, Rail Road Post 165, 1 male, 18–22.Sep.2008, R. Kimsey and T. Zavortink ( UCDC); Wash Rd. 6.6 km SE Hwy 78 Glamis, 2 males, 7–10.Jun.2008, R. Kimsey and T. Zavortink ( UCDC). Brawley, 2 males, 22.Jun.2004, K.A. Williams ( KAWC); Glamis, 3 mi. NW, 7 males, 15–16.Sep.1972, M.S. Wasbauer and A. Hardy ( CDFA), 4 males, 10.Sep.1974, M.S. Wasbauer and R. McMaster ( CDFA); Glamis, 7.5 km N, 13 males, 11–15.Sep.2007, R. Kimsey, L. Kimsey, and T.J. Zavortink ( UCDC), 1 male, 22.Sep–15.Nov.2008, E. Dreyfus ( UCDC); Glamis, 8 mi. W, 2 males, 21.Jun.2004, K.A. Williams ( KAWC).

Distribution. California and southwestern Arizona northward into southern Nevada.

Remarks. This species is not endemic to the Algodones Sand Dunes. Ferguson (1967) gives a complete discussion of this species.

Figures

FIGURES 31 – 46. Lateral view of mandible, 31 – 40 female and 41 – 46 male. 31. O. arcuata; 32. O. inconspicua; 33. O. melicausa; 34. O. obscura; 35. O. parva; 36. O. villosa; 37. Sphaeropthalma blakeii; 38. S. difficilis; 39. S. militaris; 40. S. triangularis; 41. O. ambigua; 42. O. arcuata; 43. O. aufidia; 44. O. melicausa; 45. O. becki; and 46. O. django.

FIGURES 1 – 6. Lateral view of genitalia. 1. Acanthophotopsis falciformis; 2. Sphaeropthalma becki; 3. S. difficilis; 4. S.