Odontophotopsis erebus (Melander)

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 : 27-29

Odontophotopsis erebus (Melander)

( Figs. 49, 52, 53 )

Mutilla Erebus Melander, 1903 . Amer. Ent. Soc., Trans. 29: 312. male. Holotype: New Mexico, Mesilla, T.D.A. Cockerell (NMNH).

Odontophotopsis avellanus Viereck, 1904 . Amer. Ent. Soc., Trans. 30: 88. male. Holotype: Texas (ANSP).

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from O. unicornis by the concave clypeus having a tuberculate process at median proximal margin that is not longer than wide ( Fig. 49 ). Also, the dorsal carina of the mandible is present on the distal third, the anterior margin of the clypeus is indistinctly emarginated, the ocellar area is concolorous with the head, and the cuspis is not narrowed medially having stout setae throughout ( Fig. 52 ). Genitalia as in Figs. 52 and 53 .

Distribution. Widely distributed from western Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas west to Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah and south into northern Mexico. Absent from the Mojave, Great Basin, and western Sonoran Deserts.

Material examined. USA, Arizona, Cochise Co., Carr Canyon, Huachuca Mts. , 8 males, 21– 22.Jul.2006, K.A. Williams and J.S. Wilson ( EMUS); Paradise Rd., 4 males, 25.Jun.2006, K.A. Williams and J.S. Wilson ( EMUS); Cave Creek Rd., SWRS, 2 males, 25.Jul.2006, K.A. Williams and J.S. Wilson ( EMUS); Portal, SWRS, 1 male, 24–25.Jul.2006, K.A. Williams and J.S. Wilson ( EMUS), 22 males, 22.Aug.2006, K.A. Watrous ( EMUS); Paradise Rd., 1 male, 25.Jun.2006, K.A. Williams and J.S. Wilson ( EMUS); Coconino Co., Colorado R. GC rm 122.8L, 1 male, 30.Aug.2003, R.J. Delph ( NAUF), Colorado R. GC rm 8.0L, 2 males, 30.Aug.2002, R.J. Delph ( NAUF), Colorado R. GC rm 202.5L, 1 male, 4.Sep.2003, R.J. Delph ( NAUF); Tuba City, 2 males, 13.Jul.1966, R.P. Allen ( CDFA; EMUS); Mohave Co., Colorado River, 1 male, 7.Aug.2001, J. Rundal ( EMUS); Pima Co., Vail , 8 mi N, 1 male, 26.Jun.1962, F. Werner ( UAIC); Santa Cruz Co., Patagonia Mts nr Patagonia Sonoita Creek Preserve, 1 male, 18–20.Jul.2006, K.A. Williams and J.S. Wilson ( EMUS); Madera Cyn. Camp Ground, 1 male, 18–19.Jun.2006, K.A. Williams and J.S. Wilson ( EMUS); 1 male, 8.Nov.1970, Kane ( CDFA); Sycamore Cyn., 10 males, 19–20.Jun.2006, K.A. Williams and J.S. Wilson ( EMUS); Yavapai Co., Near Montezuma Castle State Park, 3 males, 17–18.Jun.2006, K.A. Williams and J.S. Wilson ( EMUS); Santa Cruz River, E of Nogales, 1 male, 20–21.Jul.2006, K.A. Williams and J.S. Wilson ( EMUS). Kansas: Cheyenne Co., 1 male, Oct.1911, Williams ( SEMC); Seward Co., 2 males, 18.Aug.1911, Oct., Williams ( SEMC). Nebraska: Scotts Bluff Co., Chimney Rock National Historic Site, 10 males, 5– 6.Jul.2006, B.L. Webster and K.A. Williams ( EMUS). Nevada: Lincoln Co., Beaver Dam State Park, 5 males, 11.Aug.1971, G.M. Nishida and D.F. Zoller ( EMUS), 1 male, 10.Aug.1971, G.M. Nishida ( EMUS). New Mexico: Otero Co., E Alamogordo, 32 males, 22–23.Jul.2006, K.A. Williams and J.S. Wilson ( EMUS); West of Oliver Lee Memorial State Park, 1 male, 22–23.Jun.2006, K.A. Williams and J.S. Wilson ( EMUS); Rio Arriba Co., Ghost Ranch, 1 male, 29–31.Jul.1959, L.A. Carruth ( UAIC). Oklahoma, Payne Co., Lake Texoma, 1 male, 2 mi. E Willis, Jul.1965, R.M. Bohart ( UCDC). Texas, Armstrong Co., Palo Duro Canyon State Park, 1 male, 1–2.Jul.1993, A.W. Hook ( BFLC); Bastrop Co., Stengl Ranch, 2 males, 11.Jul.1993, 1 male, 29.Jun.93, 2 male, 22.Oct.94, 1 male, 7.Jul.95, 1 male, 19–20.Sep.1993, 4 male, 13–18.Oct.1993, 3 male, 21– 23.Aug.1993, 1 male, 13–18.Sep.93, Gillaspy; 2 males, 25.Jun–13.Jul.2000; 1 male, 12.Jan–6.Feb.2000, J.C. Abbott ( BFLC); Camp Swift Nat. Gd., 5 males, 20.Jun–10.Jul.2003; 1 male, 10.Sep–19. Oct.2000, 1 male, 4.Apr–20. May.2003, 1 male, 8.Jun–25.Jul.2003, J.C. Abbott ( BFLC); Brewster Co., Big Bend Ranch State Park, 54 males, 16.May.2006, K.A. Williams and J.S. Wilson ( EMUS); Big Bend Ranch, Rio Grande River, 70 males, 17–18.May.2006, K.A. Williams and J.S. Wilson ( EMUS); La Salle Co., Chaparral Wildlife Management Area, 13 males, 19–21.May.2006, K.A. Williams and J.S. Wilson ( EMUS); Presidio Co., Boquillas, Big Bend National Park, 1800’, 1 male, 25.May.1959, W.R.M. Mason ( EMUS); Big Bend Ranch State Park, Cuevas Amarillas Cree, 1 male, 11.Jun.1998, M.Z. Cardoso and C.R. Nelson ( BFLC); Randall Co., Devil’s River Camp Area, 1 male, 8.Jun.1998, S. Simmons, Devils R., Dolan Falls, 3 males, 14–17.Jul.1995, Gillaspy, 2 male, 17–19.Jun.1993, Hook and Nelson, 2 males, 27–28.Jul.1995, Gillaspy, 3 males, 26–29.May.1994, Hook and Hernadez; Val Ve rd e Co., Seminole Canyon SP, 13 males, 18–19.May.2006, K.A. Williams and J.S. Wilson ( EMUS); Ward Co., Monahan's Sand Hills SP, 1 male, 25–26.May.2006, K.A. Williams and J.S. Wilson ( EMUS); Monahans St. Park, 2 males, 18.Aug.1990, A.W. Hook ( BFLC); Palo Duro Cyn. SP, 5 males, 26–27.May.2006, K.A. Williams and J.S. Wilson ( EMUS); Palo Duro State Park, nr Canyon, 1 male, 26.Jun.1961, G.C. Eickwort ( UAIC). Utah, Cache Co., Hyrum Reservoir: pitfall trap, 2 females, 8.Jul.2005, 4 females, 14.Jul.2005, 1 males, 4 females, 21.Jul.2005, 2 males, 3 females, 23.Jul.2005, 2 males, 3 females, 26.Jul.2005, 2 females, 29.Jul.2005, 25 males, 7 females, 29.Jul.2005, 2 males, 4 females, 2.Aug.2005, 1 females, 5.Aug.2005, 15 males, 16 females, 11.Aug.2005, 1 females, 17.Aug.2005, T.J. Boud ( EMUS); Davis Co., Farmington Canyon, 1 male, 17.Aug.2006, T.J. Boud ( EMUS); Grand Co., 2 mi. SW of Moab, 1 male, 29.Jul.2006, B.L. Webster ( EMUS); Emery Co., Temple Mt Wash, 37 males, 22–26.Aug.2001, M.E. Irwin and F.D. Parker ( EMUS); Garfield Co, Alvey Wash, 7 km S Escalante, 1990 m, 73 males, 24–25. May.2002, M.E. Irwin and F.D. Parker ( EMUS); Calf Creek, 10 km S Boulder, 1750 m, 19 males, 23–26. May.2002, M.E. Irwin and F.D. Parker ( EMUS); Iron Co., Parowan , Utah Experiment Station, 1 male, 27.Jul.1940, G.F. Knowlton ( EMUS); Uintah Co., Vernal, 1 male, 10.Jul.1981, G.F. Knowlton ( EMUS). MEXICO, Chihuahua, Cerro La Campana, 5 mi N, Sierra del Nido, 5600’, 11 males, 28.Jun–1.Jul.1959, C.D. McNeill ( CSIC, EMUS); Parrita, 5 mi W, Santa Clara Cyn, 21 males, 6.Jul.1954, J.W. MacSwain and E.I. Schlinger ( CSIC, EMUS); Coahuila, Cuatro Cienegas, 3 km S along Hwy 30, 1 male, 27.Dec.1988, B.N. Danforth and R.L. Minckley; Saltillo, 61 mi N, 1 male, 30.Aug.1969, G.W. Byers ( SEMC); Tamaulipas, San Pedro, 13 males, May.1936, S. Mulaik ( UAIC, UMSP).

Remarks. Schuster used the sculpturing of the pygidium to discriminate O. erebus and O. avellanus Viereck. The sculpturing is variable and not reliable. Furthermore, Mickel (1974) synonymized these species after finding no differences in their genitalia. I agree with Mickel’s findings.

The distinction between the genitalia and clypeal tubercles of this species and O. unicornis can be occasionally difficult to discern and future molecular data may show that these two species represent one highly variable species.

The female of this species was described by Pitts et al. (2007).

Figures

FIGURES 48 – 56. Odontophotopsis unicornis: Fig. 48. head, frontal view; Fig. 50. clypeal apex, lateral view; Fig. 51. mandible; Fig. 54. genitalia, lateral view; Fig. 55. penal valve; Fig. 56. genitalia, ventral view. Odontophotopsis erebus: Fig. 49. head, lateral view; Fig. 52. genitalia, lateral view; Fig. 53. penal valve.