Pseudophotopsis Andre , 1896

Soliman, Ahmed Mostafa, 2021, The velvet ant genus Pseudophotopsis Andre, 1896 (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae) in the Arabian Peninsula, with the description of two new species, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 82, pp. 361-415 : 361

Genus Pseudophotopsis Andre, 1896

Pseudophotopsis André, 1896: 266 (as subgenus of Mutilla Linnaeus, 1758). Type species: Agama komarovii Radoskowski, 1885 (male), by subsequent designation of Ashmead, 1903: 305 (misspelled as Kamarovi ).

Alloneurion Ashmead, 1899: 59. Type species Agama kokpetica Radoszkowski, 1885 (male), by original designation (misspelled as kotepetica). Junior subjective synonym of Pseudophotopsis André, 1896 according to André, 1904: 31.

Sphinctomutilla André, 1899: 7. Type species Mutilla continua Fabricius, 1804 (female), by subsequent designation of Mickel, 1928: 37. Junior subjective synonym of Ephutomma Ashmead, 1899 according to André, 1900: 136. Junior subjective synonym of Pseudophotopsis André, 1896 according to Brothers, 1975: 590.

Diagnosis.

Eyes asetose, distinctly widened at lower pole in males (e.g., see Fig. 4A ); clypeal free margin bituberculate (e.g., see Fig. 3C ); tarsal claws with a ventral denticle (e.g., see Fig. 3A ); mid and hind tibiae apically with a pair of unequal spurs (serrate in females) (e.g., see Figs 3A ; 8B, C ); second metasomal segment with felt lines deposited laterally on tergum and sternum (e.g., see Fig. 9C ). MALES. Fully winged forms; fore and hind wings with anal lobes; metanotum mostly provided with a pair of more or less developed dentiform horns (e.g., see Fig. 4C ). FEMALES. Apterous forms; mesosomal dorsum with visible sutures (e.g., see Fig. 7D ); pronotum wider than fused meso-metanota, the latter more or less contracted and narrower than propodeum (e.g., see Fig. 7D ); propodeal dorsal face rounded or truncate behind, without scutellar scale (e.g., see Figs 7D ; 20B ); T6 subconvex, with pygidial area having poorly expressed sculpture (e.g., see Fig. 9A, B ) ( Lelej 1985, 2002).

Figures

Figure 3. Pseudophotopsis aurea (Klug) (Male) A, B habitus, lateral and dorsal views, respectively (lateral felt line on T 2 indicated, ventral denticle on tarsal claw in magnified pretarsus indicated) C head, frontal view (denticulations on clypeal free margin indicated) D head and antennal scape, dorsal view.

Figure 4. Pseudophotopsis aurea (Klug) (Male) A head, lateral view (mandibular basal lower tooth indicated) B antenna C, D mesosoma, dorsal and lateral views, respectively (metanotal horns indicated) E T 3 - T 7, dorsal view.

Figure 7. Pseudophotopsis aurea (Klug) (Female) A head, frontal view B head and antennal scape, dorsal view C antenna (with only part of scape) D mesosoma, dorsal view.

Figure 8. Pseudophotopsis aurea (Klug) (Female) A head and mesosoma, lateral view (tubercles on propodeal dorsum indicated) B, C mid and hind tibiae and basitarsomeres, respectively (prolongation at the apices of mid and hind tibiae indicated) D metasoma, dorsal view.

Figure 9. Pseudophotopsis aurea (Klug) (Female) A T 4 - T 6, dorsal view B T 6 (after removing setae surrounding pygidial area) C metasoma, ventral view (felt lines on T 2 and S 2 indicated).

Figure 20. Pseudophotopsis mascatiana Invrea (Female) A antenna (only part of scape) B, C mesosoma, dorsal and lateral views, respectively.