Sphaeropthalma blakeii (Fox)

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 : 37-39

Sphaeropthalma blakeii (Fox)

Photopsis Blakeii Fox, 1893 . Calif. Acad. Sci., Proc. 4: 6. Male. Lectotype data: San Jose del Cabo, Baja California (ANSP).

Mutilla Gautschii Dalla Torre, 1897 . Cat. Hym. 50. N. name erroneously proposed for Photopsis Blakeii Fox, thought to be preoccupied by Cameron, 1894.

Mutilla ceyx Fox, 1899 . Amer. Ent. Soc., Trans. 25: 262. Male. Lectotype data: Calmili Mines, Apr (ANSP).

Diagnosis of male. This species is easily recognized by the small denticles on the internal margin of the hind coxa. It is also recognized by the posterior margin of the head being quadrate, by the weakly excised mandible that is dilated apically, by the large stigma that is slightly longer than the marginal cell, by the lack of mesosternal processes, by the quadrate pygidium, and by the lobate and dorsoventrally flattened condition of the cuspis, which has long setae along the internal margin that coalesce apically ( Fig. 23 ).

Diagnosis of female. The female of this species has the following combination characters: the dorsum of the body is covered with sparse erect brachyplumose setae, but the integument is not obscured, the ventral margin of the mandible lacks an excision ( Fig. 37 ), the head below eyes is parallel, the head evenly rounded in lateral view, the first metasomal segment is sessile with the second segment and the pygidium is granulate.

Description of female: Coloration and Setal Pattern. Body testaceous ( Figs. 60–63 ). Flagellum and legs stramineous. Erect sparse brachyplumose setae present throughout, integumental sculpture not obscured. T1–5 with white plumose fringe. Plumose setae present on vertical face of propodeum. Legs with white brachyplumose setae.

Head. Head rounded posteriorly ( Fig. 60 ), not as wide as mesosoma, moderately punctate. Eye slightly ovate, distance from posterior mandibular articulation ~2.5X visible length of pedicel. Genal region parallel in frontal view. Clypeus slightly protruding anteriorly, posteromedially produced into low triangular tubercle. Antennal scrobe with dorsal carina. Antennal tubercle glabrous, except with carinate apical margin. Flagellomere I ~1.75X length of pedicel. Flagellomeres II–III ~1.0–1.2X length of pedicel. Mandible bidentate apically ( Fig. 37 ). Dorsal mandibular carina without tooth-like projection at anterior termination of carina ( Fig. 37 ). Ventral mandibular margin with slight basal angulation; mandible tapers towards apex ( Fig. 37 ). Genal carina absent. Hypostomal carina slightly lamellate medially.

Mesosoma. Mesosoma wider anteriorly than posteriorly ( Fig. 62 ), as long as broad. Mesosoma densely confluently punctate on dorsum. Propleuron anteriorly, mesopleuron medially running vertically, and lateral margin of propodeum with extreme ventral region punctate. Humeral angle dentate. Epaulet prominent. Scutellar scale absent. Mesosternum with low transverse tubercle present medially just anterior to mesocoxa. Metasternum tridentate. Propodeum with distinct dorsal and vertical faces.

Metasoma. Segment 1 distinctly petiolate with segment 2 ( Fig. 61 ). T1 with small sparse punctures. T2 with dense moderate punctures anteriorly, almost confluent; posteriorly at least 1 puncture width separates punctures. T2 with felt line, 0.10X length of tergite. T3–5 shagreened. T6 with distinct pygidial area defined laterally by weak carinae; surface granulate ( Fig. 63 ), appearing weakly longitudinally striate at certain angles. S2 with slight anteromedian tumid region. S2–5 with punctation similar to tergites.

Length. ~ 8–11 mm.

Material examined. California, Imperial Co. : Algodones Dunes: Niland-Glamis Rd., 7.4 km NW Glamis, 1 male, 1 female, 3–30.Mar.2008, Museum Survey Team ( UCDC), 4 males, 1–2.Jun.2008, Museum Survey Team ( UCDC); Wash Rd., 0.7 km W at railroad post 168, 10.4 km SE Hwy 78, 2 males, 18–22.Sep.2008, R.B. Kimsey and T.J. Zavortink ( UCDC); Wash Rd. 10.4 km SE Glamis, 1 male, 3 females, 30.May–3.Jun.2008, Museum Survey Team ( UCDC). Glamis, 16.Sep.1968, E.A. Kane ( CDFA); Glamis, 1.3 rd mi. W, 1 male, 30.Jul.1996, G. Kung ( LACM); Glamis, 3 mi. N, 4 females, 9 males, 7–12.Apr.1973, M.S. and J.S. Wasbauer ( CDFA); Glamis, 3 mi. NW, 19 males, 15–16.Sep.1972, M.S. Wasbauer and A. Hardy ( CDFA); S. Ruthven, 3 females, 1 male, 30.Apr.2001, D.C. Hawks and D. Yanega ( UCRC). Mexico, Baja California, Sur. Rcho. Tablon, 13 km S Guillermo Prieto, 1 male, 16–18.Apr.1983, M.S. Wasbauer and C. Slansky ( CDFA).

DNA voucher specimen data. California, Riverside Co., Palm Springs, 1 male, JP80 ( EMUS); Imperial Co., Algodones Dunes , 5 mi SW Glamis, 1 female, 24.Apr.2004, D. Yanega, JP831 ( EMUS).

Distribution. This species is widespread in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts in Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah and Mexico.

Remarks. Only ITS1 sequences were obtained from both a male and a female of this species. While the intersexual genetic distance is not exceptionally low, 1.6%, it is much lower than the interspecific genetic distances for ITS1 (Tables 1, 4). This species is widespread and not endemic to the Algodones Sand Dunes.

The male of this species is easily recognized by the quadrate head, dentate hind coxae and unique shape of the mandible, and can be quite common.

Figures

FIGURES 23 – 30. 23 – 26 Genitalia, dorsal view left, ventral right. 23. Sphaeropthalma blakeii; 24. S. ecarinata; 25. S. militaris; 26. S. triangularis; 27. Dorsal view of Odontophotopsis villosa, female; 28. Anterior view of head of O. villosa, female; 29. Anterior view of head of O. biramosa, male; and 28. Anterior view of head of O. sonora, male.

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 56 – 70. Odontophotopsis arcuata, female: 56. head, anterior view; 57. lateral view; 58. dorsal view of mesosoma, anterior left; and 59. pygidium. Sphaeropthalma blakeii, female: 60. head, anterior view; 61. lateral view; 62. dorsal view of mesosoma, anterior left; and 63. pygidium. S. difficilis, female: 64. head, anterior view; 64. lateral view; and 66. dorsal view of mesosoma, anterior left. S. ecarinata, female: 67. head, anterior view; 68. head, lateral view; 69. lateral view; and 70. dorsal view of mesosoma, anterior left.