Sphaeropthalma triangularis ( Blake, 1871 )

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 : 360

Sphaeropthalma triangularis ( Blake, 1871)

Agama triangularis Blake, 1871 . Amer. Ent. Soc., Trans. 3: 262. ♂. Holotype data: Nevada ( ANSP).

Diagnosis of male. This species is easily recognized by the lobe-like projections on the hind coxae. Other useful characters include the triangular shaped posterior margin of the head, the weakly excised mandible (see Pitts et al. 2009: Fig. 40), the lack of mesosternal processes, and the unique triangulate posterior projection of the apex of the hind tibia. Genitalia are illustrated by Pitts et al. (2009: Fig. 26).

Diagnosis of female. This species has the dorsum of the body covered with sparse erect brachyplumose setae, but the integument is not obscured; the ventral margin of the mandible has a slight excision, but lacks a long erect tooth at the termination of the dorsal carina; 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 longitudinally striate.

Material examined. Holotype data: Nevada ( ANSP) . JTNP: 18–21.Jul.2012: 1 ♂ N5. 26–28.Oct.2012: 1 ♂ S9.

Distribution. USA (Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Texas) and northern Mexico (Baja California and Sonora).

Activity. This species is seemingly rare at JTNP.

Remarks. This species is placed in its own species-group ( Pitts & Sadler 2015), and seems to be closely related to members of the S. unicolor species-group (e.g. Pitts et al. 2010b). It also seems to be more abundant at the northern extent of its range ( Table 2 & 3; Pitts et al. 2009, 2010a; Wilson et al. 2010; Boehme et al. 2012).