Sphaeropthalma yumaella Schuster, 1958

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 : 39

Sphaeropthalma yumaella Schuster, 1958

Sphaeropthalma (Micromutilla) yumaella Schuster, 1958: 19 ,

3. Holotype: Arizona, Yuma County, Wellton (CUIC).

Diagnosis. MALE. This species is recognized by the strongly excised mandible (see Pitts et al. 2010a: Fig. 31), the lack of mesosternal processes, the marginal cell being shorter than the stigma, the first segment of the metasoma sessile with the second segment, and the genitalia with a long thick cylindrical cuspis that tapers apically and has a large basal pit on the internal margin (see Pitts et al. 2009: Fig. 6 ). FEMALE. Unknown.

Material examined. Type material. Holotype of S. yumaella : Arizona, Yuma County, Wellton ( CUIC) . Other material. Nevada, Nye Co., AMNWR: Non-dune site 1: 1 ♂, LT, 18–23.IX.2009, NFB ; Non-dune site 2: 1 ♂, LT, 26–28.V.2009, NFB, 1 ♂, LT, 8–15.VI.2009, NFB & DAT, 4 ♂, LT, 23–25.VI.2009, 2 ♂, LT, 21–23.VII.2009, 2 ♂, LT, 4–6.VIII.2009, 1 ♂, LT, 17–19.VIII.2009, 1 ♂, LT, 18–23.IX.2009, NFB ; Non-dune site 3: 1 ♂, LT, 26–28.V.2009, 1 ♂, LT, 23–25.VI.2009, 1 ♂, LT, 4–6.VIII.2009, NFB ; Non-dune site 4: 1 ♂, LT, 26–28.V.2009, 1 ♂, LT, 4–6.VIII.2009, NFB ; Sand dune site 1: 19 ♂, LT, 26–28.V.2009, NFB, 2 ♂, LT, 1 ♂, PT, 8–15.VI.2009, NFB & DAT, 2 ♂, LT, 23–25.VI.2009, 4 ♂, LT, 6–8.VII.2009, 5 ♂, LT, 21–23.VII.2009, 1 ♂, LT, 18–23.IX.2009, NFB ; Sand dune site 3: 1 ♂, LT, 26–28.V.2009, NFB ; Sand dune site 4: 1 ♂, LT, 9.VI.2008, NFB & DAT, 2 ♂, LT, 12–14.V.2009, 14 ♂, LT, 26–28.V.2009, NFB, 1 ♂, LT, 8–15.VI.2009, NFB & DAT, 1 ♂, LT, 23–25.VI.2009, 1 ♂, LT, 6–8.VII.2009, NFB ; Sand dune site 5: 3 ♂, LT, 24.VI.2008, NFB, DAT & JPP, 2 ♂, LT, 21–23.VII.2009, NFB ; Non-dune site 5: 9 ♂, LT, 6–8.VII.2009, 2 ♂, LT, 21–23.VII.2009, NFB ; Copeland site: 1 ♂, LT, 5.V.2008, DAT, 2 ♂, LT, 14.V.2008, NFB & DAT.

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

Activity. Males were active from mid-spring through late summer (May through mid-September).

Remarks. Sphaeropthalma yumaella were distributed uniformly over sand dune and non-dune habitats (U=13, p>0.2). Ninety-two S. yumaella males were collected from May through September via light trapping. Sphaeropthalma yumaella was not found at the NTS.

This species is widespread ( Pitts et al. 2009). Based on mandibular and genitalic morphology, along with wing venation similarities, this species is closely related to S. brachyptera Schuster , S. noctivaga (Melander) , S. sublobata Schuster , and Odontophotopsis piute Mickel. Additional taxonomic description for this species can be found 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).