Odontophotopsis setifera Schuster, 1952

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 : 23-24

Odontophotopsis setifera Schuster, 1952

( Fig. 17)

Odontophotopsis (Odontophotopsis) setifera Schuster, 1952: 47 ,

3. Holotype: California, Riverside County, Palms to Pines Highway (UMSP); 1958: 56, 3.

Diagnosis. MALE. This species can be recognized by its unique mandibular morphology. The mandible has the apex vertical and has four teeth with the dorsal tooth separated from the remaining teeth by a deep sinus ( Fig. 17). Other potentially useful characters are listed in Pitts (2007) and Pitts et al. (2009). Genitalia are illustrated by Pitts (2007: Figs 30, 31). FEMALE. Unknown.

Material examined. Type material. Holotype of O. setifera : California, Riverside County, Palms to Pines Highway , 28 May 1940, R.M. Bohart ( UMSP) . Other material. Nevada, Nye Co., AMNWR: Non-dune site 3: 1 ♂, LT, 23–25.VI.2009, NFB ; Sand dune site 2: 1 ♂, LT, 21–23.VII.2009, NFB ; Sand dune site 5: 1 ♂, LT, 17–19.VIII.2009, NFB ; Non-dune site 5: 1 ♂, LT, 13.VI.2008, NFB & DAT, 1 ♂, LT, 6–8.VII.2009, 1 ♂, LT, 21–23.VII.2009, NFB ; Copeland site: 1 ♂, LT, 13.VI.2008, NFB .

Distribution. USA (Arizona, California and Nevada), Mexico (Baja California).

Activity. Males were active throughout the summer (June through August).

Remarks. Odontophotopsis setifera were too rarely encountered to determine their habitat preference. Seven O. setifera males were collected from June through August at light traps. Two O. setifera males were found at the NTS in July via light trapping ( Ferguson 1967, Allred 1973).