Odontophotopsis bellona Mickel

Boehme, Nicole F., Tanner, David A., Williams, Kevin A. & Pitts, James P., 2012, Faunal study of velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) and their activity patterns and habitat preference at Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Nye County, Nevada, USA, Zootaxa 3587, pp. 1-45 : 16

Odontophotopsis bellona Mickel in Mickel & Clausen, 1983

( Fig. 4 )

Odontophotopsis (Odontophotopsis) bellona Mickel in Mickel & Clausen, 1983: 541,

3. Holotype: Arizona, Pima County, Cortaro ( UMSP).

Diagnosis. MALE. This species is differentiated by having the mandible tridentate with a large basal tooth on the ventral margin ( Mickel & Clausen 1983: Fig. 17) and by the pygidium being defined laterally by carinae and having distinctly granulate sculpturing. Also this species has a mesosternal process that is bifid apically ( Pitts et al. 2009: Fig. 106, Mickel & Clausen 1983: Fig. 25). The genitalia are illustrated in Fig. 4 and by Mickel and Clausen (1983: Fig. 4 ). FEMALE. Unknown.

Material examined. Type material. Holotype of O. bellona : Arizona, Pima County, Cortaro, 2100 ft, 5 Jun 1969, J. Burger ( UMSP) . Other material. Nevada, Nye Co., AMNWR: Non-dune site 1: 1 ♂, LT, 26–28.V.2009, NFB ; Non-dune site 2: 6 ♂, LT, 26–28.V.2009, NFB, 1 ♂, LT, 8–15.VI.2009, NFB & DAT, 3 ♂, LT, 21–23.VII.2009, NFB ; Non-dune site 3: 1 ♂, LT, 26–28.V.2009, NFB ; Non-dune site 4: 1 ♂, LT, 26–28.V.2009, NFB, 1 ♂, LT, 8–15.VI.2009, NFB & DAT ; Sand dune site 1: 2 ♂, LT, 26–28.V.2009, 1 ♂, LT, 21–23.VII.2009, NFB ; Sand dune site 2: 1 ♂, LT, 12–14.V.2009, 1 ♂, LT, 17–19.VIII.2009, NFB ; Sand dune site 3: 1 ♂, LT, 18–23.IX.2009, NFB ; Sand dune site 5: 1 ♂, LT, 10.VII.2008, NFB & DAT, 3 ♂, LT, 24.VI.2008, NFB, DAT & JPP ; Non-dune site 5: 2 ♂, LT, 13.VI.2008, NFB & DAT, 1 ♂, LT, 26–28.V.2009, NFB, 1 ♂, LT, 8–15.VI.2009, NFB & DAT, 1 ♂, LT, 6–8.VII.2009, NFB ; Copeland site: 1 ♂, LT, 11. V.2008, 2 ♂, LT, 30.V.2008, NFB & DAT.

Distribution. USA (Arizona, California and Nevada).

Activity. Males were active from mid-spring through early summer (May through July).

Remarks. Odontophotopsis bellona were uniformly distributed across sand dune and non-dune habitats (U=19, p>0.2). Thirty-three O. bellona males were collected from May through September at light traps. Odontophotopsis bellona was not found at the NTS. This species is discussed in further detail in Pitts et al. (2009).

Figures

FIGURES 2 – 11. Male genitalia. 2. Odontophotopsis acmaea: dorsal view (left) and internal view (right); 3. O. armata: dorsal view and lateral view of cuspis (inset); 4. O. bellona: dorsal view; 5. O. mamata: dorsal view and lateral view of cuspis (inset); 6. O. microdonta: dorsal view (right) and ventral view (left); 7. O. piute: dorsal view; 8. O. serca: dorsal view and lateral view of cuspis (inset); 9. Sphaeropthalma nana: internal view; 10. S. orestes: dorsal view (left) and ventral view (right); and 11. S. parkeri: dorsal view (left) and ventral view (right).