Dasymutilla albiceris Mickel

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 : 21-22

Dasymutilla albiceris Mickel

Dasymutilla albiceris Mickel, 1936b . Pan-Pacific Ent. 12:91. Holotype female, Mexico, Valle de la Trinidad, Lower California, July, 1927 (L. M. Huey) [UMSP] (examined). Description of male: Manley (2003a:6).

Diagnosis of Female ( Plate C1A ). The female is distinguished by this unique combination of characters, including coloration: the antennal scrobe is carinate dorsally, the gena is ecarinate, the mesosoma is broad, a scutellar scale is absent, and the dorsum of the female is clothed with long and erect, pale yellow, almost white setae, while the integument is black.

Diagnosis of Male ( Plate C1B ). The male is distinguished by this unique combination of characters, including coloration: the antennal scrobe is carinate dorsally, sternum II lacks a pit, an apical fringe of setae is present on the pygidium, and the integument is clothed with contrasting white to yellow and black setae.

Distribution. USA (California); Mexico (Baja California).

Remarks. This is a very poorly collected species known only from the holotype and two paratype females described by Mickel (1936b) from Baja California and the six voucher specimens (four females and two males) used by Manley (2003a) for description of the male. The latter female specimens are all from southern California, as is one of the males, while the other male is from Baja California. All known specimens have been examined.

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.