Odontophotopsis odontoloxia Sadler & Pitts, 2017

Wilson, Joseph S., 2017, Nocturnal Velvet Ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Joshua Tree National Park, Riverside County, California with the description of three new species, Zootaxa 4319 (2), pp. 329-367 : 342-344

Odontophotopsis odontoloxia Sadler & Pitts , sp. nov.

Diagnosis of male. This species can be immediately recognized by the mandibular morphology alone, where the third (dorsal) tooth at the apex of the mandible is dilated dorsally ( Fig. 6 ). This is a unique mandibular shape for nocturnal mutillids. Also, the prominent mesosternal tubercles ( Fig. 7 ), the well-developed sternal felt line, the dense plumose setal fringes on the apices of the metasomal segments, and the granulate pygidium ( Fig. 8 ) that it is defined laterally delimit this species. Genitalia are illustrated in Figs 15 and 16 .

Description of male. Coloration ( Fig. 5 ). Body testaceous; antenna and legs stramineous; ocellular triangle Head ( Fig. 6 ). Head rounded posteriorly. Mandible ( Fig. 6 ) tridentate, weakly but broadly excised beneath, excision obtuse, ventral tooth small, angulate; dorsal carina complete terminating at large tooth with angulate dorsal lamella; apex vertical; mandible dilated beyond excision; mandible slightly curving ventrally towards apex. Clypeus ( Fig. 6 ) depressed below margin of mandible, median area concave; surface of clypeus polished, impunctate, with few erect setae; apex truncate, not bidentate. F1 approximately 0.8 × length of F2. Ocelli ( Figs 5 and 6 ) moderate in size, ocellocular distance approximately 2 × greatest width of lateral ocellus. Head weakly sculptured with punctures slightly wider than setal bases; interstitial regions glabrous.

Mesosoma ( Fig. 5 ). Sides and dorsum of pronotum coarsely punctate, dorsum with moderate, shallow punctures, sides with somewhat larger, contiguous punctures. Mesonotum with moderate, contiguous, shallow punctures. Notaulus obsolete on anterior 0.3 of mesonotum. Scutellum coarsely, confluently punctate. Axillae not projecting posteriorly. Dorsum and posterior face of propodeum conspicuously, shallow reticulate, reticulations extending on to sides of propodeum, either remaining reticulate laterally or becoming coarse, punctate-reticulate. Anterolateral area of mesopleuron with moderate, shallow, separated punctures; remainder of mesopleuron with deeper, contiguous to confluent punctures; interstitial areas micropunctate. Metapleuron polished. Mesosternum ( Fig. 7 ) bidentate, tubercles large, triangular and concave in posterior view; sinus between tubercles U-shaped. Mid and hind coxa edentate. Mid femur not swollen. Marginal cell on costa short, ~1 × length of stigma.

Metasoma ( Fig. 5 ). First metasomal segment broad, nodose. Pygidium ( Fig. 8 ) elongate and ovate, distinctly granulate along posterior margin, strongly margined laterally; S2 with felt line, 0.3 × length of tergal felt line. Hypopygidium elongate and ovate; apical margin rounded. Genitalia ( Figs 15 and 16 ) with paramere acicular; cuspis elongate, approximately 0.5 × free length of paramere, and cylindrical in lateral view, with moderate basal pit.

Length. 10–13 mm.

Female. Unknown.

Material examined. Holotype data, ♂: San Bernardino County: Highway 177, 10.2 km S Highway 62, 33.95861o N 115.24238o W, 240m, 26-27.May.2017, E. & K. Williams ( EMUS) . Paratypes: USA, California, Riverside County: Kelso Dunes , 1 ♂, 7.July . 1972, F. Andrews & E. Kane ( CDFA); Wileys Well , 1 ♂, 6.Oct.1988, T . Griswold ( EMUS); San Bernardino County: Highway 177, 10.2 km S Highway 62, 33.95861o N 115.24238o W, 240m, 53 ♂, 26-27.May.2017, E . & K. Williams ( CDFA, EMUS); Needles , 1 ♂, 30.July . 1968, J. Lambert ( CDFA); Sheephole Valley Road, 4.5 km N Highway 62, 34.12185o N 115.35918o W, 330m, 1 ♂, 26-27.May.2017, E . & K. Williams ( CDFA); Nevada, Clark County, St. Thomas Gap , 1 ♂, 27.Aug.1998, C . Shultz, O. & S. Messinger (CISC).

Other material examined. USA: California: San Bernardino County: Joshua Tree National Park , Dale Mine , 1 ♂, 25.Jun.2012, F. & J. Cambon ( EMUS) ; Riverside County, Joshua Tree National Park , Site S 5, ♂, 22- 23.Sep.2012, E. Sadler & K. Weglarz ( EMUS) .

Distribution. USA (California, and Nevada).

Activity. This species is rare in JTNP and we were unable to assess activity patterns.

Etymology. From the Greek odonto- meaning tooth and the Greek – loxos meaning slanting. Odontoloxia is a common dental term for irregular teeth made in reference to the snaggletoothed appearance of this species’ mandible.

Remarks. This species belongs in the O. parva species-group due to the head shape, mandibular morphology, bidentate metasternum, metasomal segment 1 being petiolate with segment 2 and being strongly punctate, sternal felt line, and defined granulate pygidium. The mesosternal processes are similar to O. parva and O. acmaea , and specimens of this species may be misidentified as O. acmaea in collections.

Figures

FIGURES 5 – 8. Odontophotopsis odontoloxia, sp. nov., 5. habitus; 6. head, frontal view; 7. mesosternum; and 8. pygidium.

FIGURES 13 – 18. Odontophotopsis dalyi, sp. nov., genitalia, 13. ventral view, 14. dorsal view; Odontophotopsis odontoloxia, sp. nov., genitalia, 15. ventral view, 16. dorsal view; and Photomorphus schoenwerthi, sp. nov., genitalia, 17. ventral view, 18. dorsal view.