Dasymutilla imperialis Manley and Pitts

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 : 18

Dasymutilla imperialis Manley and Pitts

Dasymutilla imperialis Manley and Pitts, 2004 . J. Kan. Ent. Soc. 77: 646. Male. Holotype data: California, Imperial County, Glamis Dunes , 1 mi. W Glamis, 7 Oct 1988, T. Griswold (EMUS).

Diagnosis of male. This species ( Fig. 51 ) has the following combination of characters: the integument and the setae are entirely black, the anterior margin of the pronotum is emarginate and glabrous medially, and S2 has an oval pit filled with setae positioned just posterior to the center of the sternite. The genitalia were illustrated by Manley and Pitts (2004).

Female. Unknown.

Material examined. California, Imperial Co., Algodones Dunes, Niland-Glamis Road, 7.4 km NW Glamis, 1 male, 22.Sep–15.Nov.2008, E. Dreyfus ( UCDC); Glamis Dunes, Gecko Campground, SW Glamis, 4 males, 28.Sep.1987, T. Griswold ( EMUS).

Distribution. Algodones Sand Dunes.

Remarks. Only seven specimens have been recorded previously: the female is unknown. We reexamined four of them and also found a new specimen. The female is unknown, and possibly has never been collected. This species seems to be endemic to the Algodones Sand Dunes. This species may be synonymous with D. gloriosa , and can only be separated from D. gloriosa by setal coloration and slightly larger size. Because of their large size and the potential for endemism, we hesitate to synonymize D. imperialis with D. gloriosa without further evidence. Molecular data would be helpful for clarify this difficulty, but we were unable to extract viable DNA from the newest specimen possibly due to the length of time it was left in the trap.

Manley and Pitts (2004) described this species as lacking an apical fringe of setae on the pygidium. However, examination of the paratypes, however, shows variation in the presence or absence of this fringe, as in D. gloriosa .

Figures

FIGURES 47 – 55. Habitus, lateral view. Dasymutilla atricuada, 47. female and 48. male; D. gloriosa, 49. female and 50. male; D. imperialis, 51. male; D. magnifica, 52. female and 53. male; and D. nocturna, 54. female and 55. male.