Dasymutilla atrata Manley & Pitts, 2007

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 : 26-27

Dasymutilla atrata Manley & Pitts , new species

Holotype male, Mexico, Campeche, 10 mi N. Hopelchen, IV-17-62 (F. D. Parker) [ UCDC].

Diagnosis of Male ( Plate C1K ). This species has the apices of the middle and hind femora squarely truncate, and the surfaces of the outer lobes of the truncation sulcate. This species can be separated from other species with truncate femora by having the integument entirely black, the antennal scrobe is very weakly carinate dorsally, sternum II is plain, lacking a pit filled with setae, the pygidium is rugose, and it lacks an apical fringe of setae.

Description. Male: Length, 7–8 mm. Head. Black, clothed entirely with silver setae; mandible acute at apex, with inconspicuous inner tooth about 0.25X distance from apex; clypeus flat, bidentate on anterior margin; scape conspicuously bicarinate; flagellomere I slightly shorter than remaining segments; antennal scrobes very weakly carinate.

Mesosoma. Black; anterior margin nearly straight, not emarginate medially; tegula black, posterior half glabrous, with inconspicuous black setae; mesonotum with black setae, remainder of mesosoma with silver setae.

Legs black, with silver setae; apices of middle and hind femora squarely truncate, surface of outer lobes of truncation sulcate.

Wings fuscous.

Metasoma. Black; pygidium rugose, lacking apical fringe of setae; sternum I with longitudinal carina nearly entire length of segment; sternum II plain, lacking median pit filled with setae; posterolateral angle of last sternite not dentate; apical half of tergum II with black setae (except apical fringe silver); terga IV to V with black setae; remainder of metasoma with silver setae.

Genitalia ( Plate 1A ). Paramere with apex dorsally curved, ventral margin not densely pubescent, with only short sparse setae; cuspis thin, cylindrical and slightly lobate ventrally, ventral and internal surface of flattened portion with sparse long setae, dorsal and external surface with sparse dense short setae, length of cuspis about 0.6X free length of paramere, densely pubescent elongate basal lobe present; digitus linear, tapering towards apex, length about 0.2X free length of paramere; penial valve bidentate, teeth separate and roughly equal in size.

Female. Unknown.

Paratypes. 2♂, MEXICO, same as holotype (1♂, UCDC; 1♂, DGMC) .

Distribution. Mexico (Campeche).

Etymology. From the Latin meaning “clothed in black,” in reference to the setal coloration of the mesonotum.

Remarks. This species is known only from the male. The apices of the middle and hind femora are definitely, but not conspicuously, truncate, and with the surface of the outer lobe sulcate, so one must be careful at the first couplet of the key.

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.