Sphaeropthalma macswaini Ferguson, 1967

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 : 30

Sphaeropthalma macswaini Ferguson, 1967

Sphaeropthalma (Micromutilla) macswaini Ferguson, 1967: 12 ,

3. Holotype: Nevada, Nye County, 2.1 mi NE Mercury (NMNH).

Diagnosis. MALE. This species has distinctive tridentate mandibles that are deeply excised ventrally and the apex is vertical and greatly dilated, which is similar to species of Acrophotopsis and Dilophotopsis , but more so that other species at Deep Canyon (see Pitts et al. 2010a: Fig. 24). Additionally, the clypeus is distinctly elongate and projects anteriorly and the genitalia have a distinctively shaped curved cuspis that bears a large seta filled pit (see Pitts et al. 2010a: Fig. 58). This species sometimes has weak mesosternal processes located anteromedially. FEMALE. Unknown.

Material examined. Type material. Holotype of S. macswaini : Nevada, Nye County, 2.1 mi NE Mercury , 24 August 1964, W.E. Ferguson ( NMNH) . Other material. Nevada, Nye Co., AMNWR: Non-dune site 2: 1 ♂, LT, 6–8.VII.2009, NFB.

Distribution. USA (Arizona, California and Nevada).

Activity. One male was collected in early July 2009.

Remarks. Sphaeropthalma macswaini were too rarely encountered to determine their habitat preference. Only one S. macswaini male was collected in July in a light trap. Two S. macswaini males were found at the NTS in July and August ( Ferguson 1967).

The clypeus of this species is diagnostic ( Pitts et al. 2010a). However, it is elongate and the extreme apex overlies the greatly dilated and deeply excised mandibles, but does not obscure them. Additional taxonomy for this species is presented by Pitts et al. (2010a).