Dasymutilla asteria Mickel, 1936

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 : 26

Dasymutilla asteria Mickel

Dasymutilla asteria Mickel, 1936a . Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer. 29:57. Holotype female, Pima County, Arizona, September 10, 1925 (T. A. Austin) [UMSP] (examined).

Diagnosis of Female ( Plate C1J ). This species has unique coloration. The head and pronotum have yellow setae, while the mesonotum is black. Tergum II has bright red setae on the anterior half, black setae on the posterior half, while the apical fringe is pale yellow or white. Also, this species has the antennal scrobe carinate dorsally, the gena carinate, the mesosoma is longer than broad, and a scutellar scale is present.

Male. Unknown.

Host Identity. Microbembex nigrifrons (Provancher) ( Hymenoptera : Sphecidae ) ( Haddock 1967).

Distribution. USA (Arizona); Mexico (Jalisco, Nayarit, Sinaloa, Sonora).

Remarks. Due to its characteristic pattern of setae, unless the setae are completely worn off, this species keys out very easily. It is a relatively common species in Arizona and northern Mexico. Approximately two hundred specimens have been examined. It is known only from the female.

Figures

PLATE 1. Male genitalia of Dasymutilla. A. D. atrata. B. D. baylegi. C. D. bimaculata. D. D. boharti. E. D. brazilia. F. D. chamela. G. D. chillcotti. H. D. fimbriata. I. D. guanacaste.