Sphaeropthalma megagnathos Schuster

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 : 43

Sphaeropthalma megagnathos Schuster

Sphaeropthalma (Photopsis) megagnathos megagnathos Schuster, 1958 . Ent. Amer. (n. s.) 37: 36. Male. Holotype: Arizona, Ehrenberg, 27.Apr.1939, coll. F.H. Parker (UMSP).

Sphaeropthalma (Photopsis) megagnathos aurifera Schuster, 1958 . Ent. Amer. (n. s.) 37: 36. Male. Holotype: Arizona, Tinajas Atlas Mountains, 1905, coll. W.J. McGee (UMSP).

Diagnosis of male. The male of S. megagnathos can be separated easily from all other nocturnal species by mandibular morphology: the mandibles are very broadly dilated, especially ventral portion apically, distally much wider than width at ventral angulation, the ventral basal tooth of the mandible is small, and the apex is vertical (see Pitts, 2006: Fig. 7 ). Also, the head is long and parallel posteriorly, the clypeus is deeply depressed below the dorsal mandibular margin, the mesosternum lacks tubercles, the wings are yellowish-hyaline, and the sternal felt line is absent. The genitalic morphology also is diagnostic (see Pitts, 2006: Figs 17–19 ). In some specimens the coloration of the integument and setae are bright orange, while in others the setal coloration varies from orange to white and the integument is stramineous to castaneous.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution. Arizona, California, and Nevada.

Material Examined. USA: California: Imperial Co., Algodones Sand Dunes , 1 mi W Glamis, 1 male, 31.May.1998, Gates and Clark ( UCRC); Glamis, 1 male, 23.Apr.1970, coll. A.R. Hardy and J.W. Prichard ( LACM).

Remarks. This species is not common on the Algodones Sand Dunes, but is widespread and common in other parts of its range. This species was reviewed by Pitts (2006) and varies in coloration of the integument and setae from having stramineous integument with whitish setae to orangish integument and setae. The specimens collected on the dunes were of the paler form.

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.