Dasymutilla canina (Smith)

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 : 37-38

Dasymutilla canina (Smith)

Mutilla canina Smith, 1855 . Cat. Hym. Br. Mus. 3:58. Holotype female, Mexico (No. 15.1419) [BMNH] (examined).

Mutilla sumichrasti Saussure, 1867 . Ann. Ent. Soc. Fr. 7:357. Lectotype female, Mexico (Saussure) [MHNG] (examined). Synonymy: Mickel (1964:164), Manley (2003b:683).

Mutilla (Sphaeropthalma) sumichrasti Blake, 1871 . Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. 3:236. Female (nec. ♂).

Sphaerophthalma [sic.] philinna Cameron, 1895 . Biol. Cent.-Amer., Hym. 2:354. Holotype female, Mexico, Venta de Zopilote, Guerrero (Smith) (No. 15.814) [BMNH] (examined). Synonymy: Mickel (1964:164), Manley (2003b:683).

Sphaerophthalma [ sic.] sumichrasti Cameron, 1895 . Biol. Cent.-Amer., Hym. 2:359. Female (nec. ♂).

Mutilla transmarina Dalla Torre, 1897 . Cat. Hym. 8:92. Female (N. name for Sumichrasti Blake, 1871 , nec. Saussure, 1867).

Mutilla (Ephuta) variicolor André, 1898 . Ann. Ent. Soc. Fr. 67:56. Lectotype female [MNHN] (examined). Synonymy: Mickel (1964:164), Manley (2003b:683).

Diagnosis of Female ( Plate C3A ). This species can be recognized by its unique setal pattern. In general, the setae on the dorsum of the body are yellow and black, with no red setae present. A triangular pattern of black setae is present on the dorsum of the mesosoma anteriorly that extends laterally to the humeral angles, while the propodeum is clothed with yellow setae, and there is a bilobed pattern of black setae on tergum II that extends beyond the midline of the segment. The integument varies and may be either entirely black (traditional D. canina ) or more ferruginous (formerly D. philinna ), but lacks maculae. Also, the head of this species is broad and quadrate, but is not broader than the mesosoma, the antennal scrobe is very weakly carinate dorsally (although this character is not conspicuous), the gena is ecarinate, the mesosoma is as broad as long, the scutellar scale is absent, and sternum II is merely punctate, not at all scabrous.

Male. Unknown.

Distribution. Mexico (Chiapas, Guerrero, Morelos, Oaxaca); Guatemala; Costa Rica (Guanacaste).

Remarks. This species is known only from the female. It keys with some difficulty, resulting in its being placed in the key in two locations. Several dozen specimens of this species have been examined.

Figures

PLATE 3. Male genitalia of Dasymutilla. A. D. nocticaro. B. D. sinaloa. C. D. spiniscapula. D. D. truxali. E. D. sleipniri. F. D. veracruz. G. D. wasbaueri.