Laminatilla mixtoensis (Schuster)

Pitts, James P., 2007, Revision of Odontophotopsis Viereck (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae), Part 1, with a description of a new Genus Laminatilla, Zootaxa 1619, pp. 1-43 : 39

Laminatilla mixtoensis (Schuster)

( Figs. 77–79 )

Odontophotopsis (Odontophotopsis) mixtoensis Schuster, 1958 . Ent. Amer. (n. s.) 37: 56. male. Holotype: Mexico, Puebla, Sierra Mixteca, C.A. Purpus, S.V. (UMSP).

Diagnosis. This species has a mandible that tapers apically with a complete dorsal carina that does not project anteriorly ( Fig. 77 ), and has the posterior margin of the head subtriangular in outline, but lacks both a denticle on the antennal tubercle and a carina connecting the mesosternal processes. The genitalia are as in Figs. 78 and 79 .

Distribution. Based on the limited number of specimens, it is found in Guerrero and Puebla, Mexico.

Material examined. Mexico, Guerrero, Iguala, 16 km NW, 1 male, 22.Jul.1983, Chemsak and Michelbacher ( CISC).

Remarks. Schuster (1958) suggested that L. lamellifera has the mesopleura closely, strongly punctate throughout, the lateral pronotal faces obscurely punctate posteriorly, the eyes and ocelli very large (the eyes 2.8–2.85X as long as ocellocular distance with 0.96X the width of frons between them), the vertex length varies from 0.6–0.75X the eye-length, and the legs stramineous and paler than the body, while L. mixtoensis has the mesopleura with anterior half virtually impunctate, the lateral pronotal faces confluently punctate, the eyes and ocelli smaller (the eyes 2.3–2.4X the ocellocular distance with 0.88X the width of frons between eyes), the vertex length 0.8–0.85X the eye-length, and the legs and antenna concolorous, not paler than body. The additional specimens studied here show overlapping states for all of these characters, except for the leg coloration, and these characters are not useful for discriminating these species. Furthermore, given that only two specimens of L. mixtoensis are known, it is likely that leg coloration may also fail to be useful. The mandibular shape ( Figs. 74, 77 ) and the apex of the cuspis ( Figs. 75, 76, 78, 79 ), however, differ between the two species and may remain a consistent means for identification.

Figures

FIGURES 69 – 79. Laminatilla bicornigera: Fig. 69. mandible, lateral view; Fig. 70. mandible, frontal view; Fig. 71. mandible, dorsal view; Fig. 72. genitalia, dorsal view; Fig. 73. cuspis, lateral view, dorsum to left. Laminatilla lamellifera: Fig. 74. mandible; Fig. 75. genitalia, dorsal view; Fig. 76. cuspis, lateral view, dorsum to left. Laminatilla mixtoensis: Fig. 77. mandible; Fig. 78. genitalia, dorsal view; Fig. 79. cuspis, lateral view, dorsum to left.