Odontophotopsis villosa Mickel

Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A. & Boehme, Nicole F., 2009, Velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of the Algodones sand dunes of California, USA, Zootaxa 2131, pp. 1-53 : 31-33

Odontophotopsis villosa Mickel

Odontophotopsis (Odontophotopsis) villosa Mickel, 1983 . Ann. Amer. Ent. Soc. 76: 550. Male. Holotype data: Palm Springs, California, T. Zschokke (UMSP).

Diagnosis of male. For this species, the mandible is unique among Odontophotopsis in having the ventral margin almost entire ventrally (i.e., only weakly excised), while the dorsal carina is obsolete on the distal third, and the apex is bidentate. In rare instances, a weak median tooth can be present such that the mandibles are tridentate. Also, the head is rounded posteriorly; the clypeus is slightly concave with a weak tubercle at the median proximal margin; the anterolateral angle of the clypeus is slightly tuberculate; the ocellar area is concolorous with the head; the legs and antennae usually are lighter in color than the body; the mesosternal processes are distinct, but are not high and prominent, being separated by distance equal to diameter of ocellus; S2 has a conspicuous, strongly elevated, longitudinal carina on median proximal fifth; the pygidium is granulate; the parameres are not angulate medially and are only slightly bent inward two-thirds from the base ( Fig. 22 ); the cuspis is narrowed medially, appearing club-like; and the apex of the cuspis has stout setae, but medially it has thinner setae, and the inner margin has an elongate area of dense short setae.

Diagnosis of female. The female of this species can be recognized by the frons in lateral view having distinct dorsal and vertical faces projecting forwards in front of eyes ( Figs. 27, 28 , 89, 90), the ventral margin of the mandible lacking a distinct angulation ( Fig. 36 ), flagellomere 1 being much longer than flagellomere 2, the mesosoma being hexagonal in dorsal view, the first segment of the metasoma being petiolate with the second, the second metasomal segment being of normal length, ~ 1X as long as anterior width or just slightly greater, the pygidium being longitudinally striate, and by the dense appressed setae present on the dorsum that obscure the integumental sculpture and are distinctly plumose at the base of the setal shaft becoming simple apically (Figs. 88, 89, 90).

Description of female: Coloration and Setal Pattern. Body reddish brown to brown (Figs. 89, 90); posterior margin of T2 and metasomal segments 3–6 slightly darker. Mandible apices black. Flagellum and legs yellow to dark yellow. Head, mesosoma, and T2 covered with dense decumbent plumose setae that obscure the sculpture. Plumose condition of setae stronger at base, becoming brachyplumose towards tip. T1 covered with erect white brachyplumose setae. T2–5 and S2–5 with fringe of dense white plumose setae. Legs with white brachyplumose setae.

Head. Head rounded posteriorly (Fig. 89), not as wide as mesosoma, moderately punctate; head swollen dorsal to scrobe such that in lateral view there are distinct frontal and dorsal areas ( Figs. 27, 28 , 89, 90). Eye distinctly ovate, distance from posterior mandibular articulation ~ 3X visible length of pedicel. Genal region below eyes parallel in lateral view. Clypeus protruding anteriorly, posteromedially produced into low triangular tubercle. Antennal scrobe with dorsal carina. Antennal tubercle with carinate shield-like region with multiple rugae ( Figs. 28 , 89). Flagellomere I ~1.5X length of pedicel. Flagellomeres II–III ~1.0–1.2X length of pedicel. Mandible bidentate apically ( Fig. 36 : internal tooth not illustrated due to illustration angle). Ventral mandibular margin with basal slight angulation ( Fig. 36 ). Genal carina absent. Hypostomal bridge lamellate medially.

Mesosoma. Mesosoma hexagonal, wider than long ( Figs. 27 , 88). Mesosoma densely punctate on dorsum. Propleuron anteriorly, mesopleuron medially running vertically, and lateral margin of propodeum with extreme ventral region punctate. Humeral angle dentate. Epaulet prominent. Scutellar scale absent. Mesosternum with low transverse tubercle present medially just anterior to mesocoxa. Metasternum tridentate. Propodeum with distinct dorsal and vertical faces.

Metasoma. Segment 1 distinctly petiolate with segment 2 ( Figs. 27 , 90). T1 with small sparse punctures. T2 with dense moderate punctures anteriorly, but sculpture obscured by dense setae. T2 with felt line, 0.3X length of tergite. T3–5 shagreened, but completely covered by extremely dense plumose setae. T6 with distinct pygidial area ( Figs. 27 , 90), defined laterally by carinae, densely longitudinally striate and produced medially along posterior margin. S2 with slight anteromedian tumid region. S2 scabrous. S2–5 with punctation similar to tergites.

Length. ~ 8–14 mm.

Material examined. California, Imperial Co. : Algodones Dunes: Cahuilla Ranger Sta., 10 km WSW Glamis, 9 males, 2 females, 22.Sep–15.Nov.2008, E. Dreyfus ( UCDC); Coachella Canal Rd., 18.1 km NW Glamis, 7 males, 7 females 30.May–3.Jun.2008, Museum Survey Team ( UCDC); Gecko Rd. 3.2 km S. Cahuilla Ranger Sta., 2 males, 3 females, 7.Jun.2008, R. Kimsey and T. Zavortink ( UCDC); Osborne Overlook, 5.7 km WSW Glamis, 5 females, 24–28.Mar.2008, Museum Survey Team ( UCDC); Roadrunner Campgrd., 10.7 km SW Glamis, 3 males, 31.May–3.Jun.2008, Museum Survey Team ( UCDC); Wash Road, 0.7 km W at railroad post 168, 10.4 km SE Hwy 78, 2 males, 18–22.Sep.2008, R.B. Kimsey and T.J. Zavortink ( UCDC). Glamis, ~ 1 mi. NW, 1 female, 18–19.Sep.1993, D.C. Hawks ( UCRC); Glamis, 8 km S, 2 males, 11–15.Sep.2007, R. Kimsey, L. Kimsey, and T.J. Zavortink ( UCDC); Glamis, 2.5 mi. NE Coachella Bridge #1, 32°51’41”N 115°4’6”W, 4 females, 17.Apr.1979 ( CDFA), 6 females, 26.May.1971, M.S. Wasbauer and M.E. Irwin ( CDFA), 4 females, 29.May.1971, M.S. Wasbauer ( CDFA), 1 female, 2.Jun.1971, A.J. Gilbert ( CDFA), 1 female, 8.Apr.1972, A.J. Gilbert ( CDFA), 3 females, 24.Apr.1972, M.S. Wasbauer ( CDFA), 1 female, 24.Jul.1995, D.G. Manley ( DGMC), 8 females, 22.Apr.1971, A. Hardy and M. Irwin ( LACM), 3 females, 23.Apr.1970, A. Hardy ( LACM); Glamis, 1 mi. W, 1 female, 17.Jun.1992, D.G. Manley ( DGMC), 3 females, 31.Mar.1972, A. Hardy ( LACM), 1.5 mi S Glamis, 4 females, 15.Sep.1983, R. Snelling ( LACM); Glamis, 2 mi. W, 5 females, 22.May.1975, D.G. Manley ( DGMC); Glamis, 2 mi. NW, 1 female, 27.Feb.1972, A. Hardy ( LACM); Glamis, 3 mi. N, 15 females, 24.Apr.1972, M.S. Wasbauer ( CDFA), 29 females, 21 males, 15–16.Sep.1972, M.S. Wasbauer and A. Hardy ( CDFA; LACM), 5 females, 16.Oct.1972, M.S. Wasbauer and A. Hardy ( CDFA), 23 females, 2 males, 7–12.Apr.1973, M.S. and J.S. Wasbauer ( CDFA), 1 female, 10.Sep.1983, R. Snelling ( LACM), 3 females, 15.Apr. 1972, A. Hardy ( LACM), 9 females, 24.Mar. 1972, A. Hardy ( LACM), 56 females, 9.Apr. 1972, A. Hardy ( LACM), 7 females, 4.Mar.1972, A. Hardy ( LACM); Glamis, 3 mi. NE, 1 female, 15.Apr.1972 ( UCRC); Glamis, 3.5 mi. NW, 4 females, 10.Mar.1973, F.G. andrews and A.R. Hardy ( CDFA); Glamis, 5 mi SW, 9 males, 23.Jul.2005, K.A. Williams ( EMUS); Glamis, 3.9 mi. W, 1 female, 2.Apr.2002, D. Yanega ( UCRC), 1 female, 31.Mar.2003, A.L. Park ( UCRC); Glamis, 5 mi. N, 1 female, 4 males, 10.Sep.1974, MT 6P–8A, M.S. Wasbauer and R. McMaster ( CDFA); Glamis, 4 mi. NW, 1 female, 14–19.Apr.1972 ( UCRC); Glamis, 7 mi. SE, 32°55’20” N 114°59’14”W, 2 females, 19–24.Mar.1979 ( CDFA), 3 females, 3 males, 25.Mar.1979 – 8.Apr.1979 ( CDFA); Ogilby, 3.5 mi. W, 32°48’48”N, 114°53’51”?, 2 females, 12.Apr.1979 ( CDFA); S. Ruthven, 1 female, 6.Apr.2000, 1 female, 28.Apr.2001, 4 females, 1 male, 30.Apr.2001, 1 male, 24.Apr.2004, D.C. Hawks and D. Yanega ( UCRC); Seeley, 3 females, 16.Mar.1971, 6 females, 8.Apr.1971, E.L. Paddock ( CDFA). Riverside Co., Blythe, 3 mi. W, 1 female, 27.May.1971, M.S. Wasbauer ( CDFA).

DNA voucher specimen data. California, Imperial Co. : Algodones Dunes: 5 mi SW Glamis, 2 males, 5.Aug.2005, K.A. Williams, JP85, JP88; 1 female, 5.Aug.2005, K.A. Williams, JP713 ( EMUS).

Distribution. Southern California.

Remarks. This species is limited to the Algodones Sand Dunes and surrounding areas in the western Sonoran Desert, and is particularly abundant on these dunes. The ITS1 sequences from a male and female of this species were identical, while the ITS2 sequences were 0.2% different (Table 1). A more thorough discussion of the male of this species can be found in Pitts (2007).

The female of this species is one of the largest nocturnal females found on the dunes and is easily recognized by the shape of the mesosoma and the protruding frons.

Figures

FIGURES 7 – 22. Dorsal view of genitalia, except Figs. 15, 17, 19, and 21 lateral view of cuspis. 7. Odontophotopsis ambigua; 8. O. arcuata; 9. O. aufidia; 10. O. biramosa; 11. O. clypeata; 12. O. inconspicua; 13. O. melicausa; 14 and 15. O. obscura; 16 and 17. O. parva; 18 and 19. O. quadrispinosa; 20 and 21 O. sonora; and 22. O. villosa.

FIGURES 23 – 30. 23 – 26 Genitalia, dorsal view left, ventral right. 23. Sphaeropthalma blakeii; 24. S. ecarinata; 25. S. militaris; 26. S. triangularis; 27. Dorsal view of Odontophotopsis villosa, female; 28. Anterior view of head of O. villosa, female; 29. Anterior view of head of O. biramosa, male; and 28. Anterior view of head of O. sonora, male.

FIGURES 31 – 46. Lateral view of mandible, 31 – 40 female and 41 – 46 male. 31. O. arcuata; 32. O. inconspicua; 33. O. melicausa; 34. O. obscura; 35. O. parva; 36. O. villosa; 37. Sphaeropthalma blakeii; 38. S. difficilis; 39. S. militaris; 40. S. triangularis; 41. O. ambigua; 42. O. arcuata; 43. O. aufidia; 44. O. melicausa; 45. O. becki; and 46. O. django.