Timulla hollensis ( Melander, 1903 )

Waldren, George C., 2024, Taxonomic notes on velvet ants of the genus Timulla Ashmead, 1899 (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) in the United States of America and Canada, Insecta Mundi 2024 (55), pp. 1-10 : 10

Timulla hollensis ( Melander, 1903)

Mutilla Sayi var. hollensis Melander 1903: 324 . Holotype ♂ ( MCZ).

Timulla (Timulla) hollensis melanderi Mickel 1937a: 101 . Holotype ♂ (CUIC). New synonym.

Remarks. Mickel (1937a) described the male-based subspecies Timulla hollensis melanderi Mickel, 1937 and in the remarks for it noted: “Exactly like subsp. hollensis except the thorax entirely black, and the vertex and posterior part of scutellum with pale pubescence.” I have been unable to find any structural differences between these two subspecies either. Further, they both occur in the northeastern United States, and there is no geographic distinction between them. Both subspecies have been collected in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Based on their identical morphology and geographic overlap, Timulla hollensis melanderi Mickel, 1937 is here considered a new synonym of Timulla hollensis ( Melander, 1903) .

Additionally, Mickel (1937a) noted that the location of the type of Mutilla sayi hollensis Melander, 1903 was unknown to him. I located the holotype among non-type material at the Museum of Comparative Zoology (MCZ) labeled with the unique specimen identifier MCZ-ENT 00585864.

Material examined ( Timulla hollensis hollensis ) ( 2 ♂). Holotype: USA: Massachusetts: Barnstable Co.: Woods Hole, 13.Aug.1899 (1♂ – MCZ – MCZ-ENT 00585864 ). Non-type (s): USA: Maryland: Prince George’s Co. : 09–17. Aug.2007 (1♂ – UCDC – USGS-DRO 283478 ).

Material examined ( Timulla hollensis melanderi ) ( 2 ♂). Holotype ( Timulla hollensis melanderi ): USA: Maryland: Baltimore Co.: Baltimore, 09.Jul. (1♂ – CUIC – HOLOTYPE Cornell U. no. 1518.1). Non-type (s): USA: Maryland: Prince George’s Co. : Bowie, 03.Sep.1996, R.D. Hennessey (1♂ – EMUS).

In total, 54♂ and 0 ♀ of Timulla hollensis ( Melander, 1903) were examined ( AMNH, CASC, CMNH, CSUC, CUIC, DEBU, DGMC, EMUS, FMNH, FSCA, GCWC, MCZ, MEM, MSUC, NMNH, OSAC, OSUC, OMAE, SEMC, UCDC, UMMZ).