Dasymutilla bioculata (Cresson)

MANLEY, DONALD G. & PITTS, JAMES P., 2007, Tropical and Subtropical Velvet Ants of the Genus Dasymutilla Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) with Descriptions of 45 New Species, Zootaxa 1487 (1), pp. 1-128 : 31

Dasymutilla bioculata (Cresson)

Mutilla bioculata Cresson, 1865c . Proc. Ent. Soc. Phil. 4:431. Holotype male, Colorado Territory (No. 1874) [ANSP] (examined). Life history: Cottrell [1936 (In Brothers 1972)].

Mutilla Aegina Cresson, 1865c . Proc. Ent. Soc. Phil. 4:435. Holotype female, Colorado Territory (No. 1870) [ANSP] (examined). Synonymy: Krombein (1979).

Mutilla chlamydata Melander, 1903 . Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. 29:299. Holotype female, no data (No. 150) [WSUC] (examined). Synonymy: Krombein (1979).

Diagnosis of Female ( Plate C2C ). The female of this species is somewhat difficult to distinguish due to variation in the antennal scrobe. The antennal scrobe is typically not carinate, although it appears to be weakly carinate occasionally. The gena is not carinate, the mesosoma is longer than broad, a scutellar scale is present, the head and mesosoma are clothed with ferruginous/orange setae, and the apical fringe of tergum II is black. The setae are typically appressed in this species.

Diagnosis of Male ( Plate C2D ). The male of this species is distinguished by a unique combination of characters. The integument of sternum II is black, and lacks a pit filled with setae. Tergum II has coalescing yellow maculae. The setae of terga III to VI are entirely black. The mesonotum, scutellum, and apical half of tergum II have orange setae.

Host Identity. Bembix pruinosa Fox and Microbembex monodonta (Say) ( Hymenoptera : Sphecidae ) ( Mickel 1924); Bembix americana spinolae Lepeletier ( Hymenoptera : Sphecidae ) ( Krombein 1958).

Distribution. USA / Canada (Manitoba south to Louisiana, west to British Columbia and New Mexico); Mexico.

Remarks. The female of D. bioculata is similar in appearance to D. chiron and D. chiron ursula and, like the latter two, is difficult to key out due to variation in the antennal scrobe. Dasymutilla bioculata can be distinguished from the latter two by having the setae more appressed. Also, the apical fringe of tergum II is black in D. bioculata whereas it is white in D. chiron . Future studies may show that all three are synonyms.

Although Nonveiller (1990) lists Mexico as part of the range for this species, we have seen no specimens from Mexico.

This is an extremely common species of which we have examined many hundreds of specimens.

Figures

PLATE 2. Male genitalia of Dasymutilla. A. D. impressa. B. D. ionothorax. C. D. loreto. D. D. mazatlanorum. E. D. mirabilis. F. D. mirapenis. G. D. modgudi. H. D. naranjo.