Dasymutilla, Ashmead, 1899

Cambra, Roberto A., Williams, Kevin A., Quintero, Diomedes, Windsor, Donald M., Pickering, John & Saavedra, Daisy, 2018, Dasymutilla Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae) in Panama: new species, sex associations and seasonal flight activity, Insecta Mundi 608, pp. 1-17 : 4

Key to species of Dasymutilla in Panama (Males)

This key should function for any Panamanian male mutillids that have the axillae armed with a posterior tooth or truncate projection, have T1 petiolate with T2, and have their tergal fringes lacking plumose setae. Although Traumatomutilla are not treated here, the genus is included in the key to help with diagnosis.

1. S2 with a seta-filled pit.......................................................... 2 — S2 without a seta-filled pit....................................................... 6

2(1). Mesopleuron with a strong protuberance near tegula; S2 with a conspicuous longitudinal carina or keel running from anterior margin of sternal pit to anterior margin of segment; T2 mostly yellow..................................................... D. pulchra (Smith)

— Mesopleuron without protuberance; S2 without longitudinal carina; T2 black or mostly yellow ............................................................................. 3

3(2). Tibial spurs white, contrasting with black tibiae..................................... 4 — Tibial spurs black, concolorous with tibiae.......................................... 5

4(3). Mesosoma largely reddened; T7 medially with longitudinal elevated carina; lateral margin of hypopygium with curved carina....................... D. spilota Manley and Pitts

— Entire body black; T7 without elevated carina medially; lateral margin of hypopygium without carina................................................ Traumatomutilla André

5(3). T2 to T5 covered mostly with dense red setae; T6 to T7 with black setae; anterior margin of mesoscutellum with slight median angulation; posterior margin of hypopygium with distinctive median spine directed posteriorly; S2 pit oval, 0.2 × length of segment D. araneoides (Smith)

— T2 covered mostly with sparse yellow setae; T3 to T7 with black setae; anterior margin of mesoscutellum with short median process; posterior margin of hypopygium with small median v-shaped notch; S2 pit long and narrow, at least 0.4× length of segment D. phya (Cameron)

6(1). Mesoscutellum anterior margin with short median process; marginal cell apex truncate ( Fig. 25 ); axilla forming elongate “arm” connecting to mesoscutellum posteriorly; posterior margin of hypopygium with a distinct median spine directed posteriorly; S2 base with conspicuous, medial and short, longitudinal keel; T2 mostly yellow; tibial spurs black.................................................................... D. paradoxa (Gerstaecker)

— Mesoscutellum anterior margin with slight median angulation; marginal cell apex pointed ( Fig. 24 ); axilla punctate dorsally, sessile with mesoscutellum, with posterior face truncate; posterior margin of hypopygium with a small median notch or a distinct median spine directed posteriorly; S2 without longitudinal keel; T2 black; tibial spurs white................. 7

7(6). Posterior margin of hypopygium with a small median notch; T4 to T5 with dense white setae...................... D. colorado Cambra, Williams and Quintero , sp. nov.

— Posterior margin of hypopygium with a distinct median spine directed posteriorly; T4 to T5 with black setae............................................ Traumatomutilla André

Figures

Figures 23–28. Dasymutilla, right forewing. 23) D. araneoides. 24) D. colorado, sp. nov. 25) D. paradoxa. 26) D. phya. 27) D. pulchra. 28) D. spilota.