velvet ants

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 : 40-42

Key to the male velvet ants of Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

(Males of Dasymutilla pseudopappus are unknown.)

1. Axillae spinose or triangulate; diurnal forms: integument usually dark, from black to ferruginous; apical fringe of T2–6 without plumose setae................................................................................... 39

- Axillae indistinct; nocturnal forms: integument brown, testaceous or stramineous (except in S. marpesia and some individuals of S. mendica which have integument black or dark ferruginous and the apical fringe of T2–6 with obvious plumose setae); apical fringe of T2–6 usually with plumose setae........................................................... 2

2. Mesosternum with large glabrous longitudinal swellings located on either side of the midline.................................................................................................. Odontophotopsis mamata Schuster

- Mesosternum with spine-like processes, ridges or lacking processes............................................ 3

3. Hind coxae with lobes or denticles...................................................................... 4

- Hind coxae unmodified............................................................................... 5

4. Hind coxae with denticles; hind tibia without lateral expansion......................... Sphaeropthalma blakeii (Fox)

- Hind coxae with lobes; hind tibia with lateral expansion......................... Sphaeropthalma triangularis (Blake)

5. Clypeus elongate, but not overlapping mandibles; mandible greatly dilated apically and ventrally excised...................................................................................... Sphaeropthalma macswaini Ferguson

- Clypeus not elongate; mandible moderately dilated to not dilated apically....................................... 6

6. Hypopygidium flattened; lateral margins of hypopygidium with longitudinal carinae basally; cuspis of genitalia elbowed.. 7

- Hypopygidium convex; lateral margins of hypopygidium without longitudinal carinae; cuspis of genitalia straight or slightly curved............................................................................................. 8

7. Dorsoventrally flattened and elbowed cuspis with a dorsal carina in elbowed region..... Dilophotopsis concolor (Cresson)

- Dorsoventrally flattened and elbowed cuspis lacks a dorsal carina in elbowed region....... Dilophotopsis paron (Cameron)

8. Mesosternum armed with spines or ridges................................................................. 9

- Mesosternum unarmed, lacking spines or ridges........................................................... 22

9. Mandible quadridentate, with three apical teeth and a fourth tooth along internal margin that overhangs clypeus; cuspis of genitalia knobbed apically.................................................. Acanthophotopsis falciformis Schuster

- Mandible apex bidentate, tridentate, or quadridentate, but without a fourth tooth along internal margin that overhangs clypeus; cuspis of genitalia tapering apically..................................................................... 10

10. Mandible greatly dilated with large dorsal tooth separated from other teeth by a deep, wide sinus.................... 11

- Mandible moderately dilated or not dilated, but without a deep, wide sinus...................................... 12

11. Clypeus with dense, short, even-length brush of stiff, subclavate setae; clypeus without horseshoe-shaped tubercle posteromedially process; mandibles quadridentate distally (fig. 17)........................... Odontophotopsis setifera Schuster

- Clypeus virtually glabrous; clypeus with horseshoe-shaped tubercle posteromedially that overhangs the clypeus as a slight hood-like or nasutiform process; mandibles tridentate distally..................... Odontophotopsis biramosa Schuster

12. Ventral margin of mandible with deep excision subtended by a large rounded tooth............................... 13

- Ventral margin of mandible with weak excision subtended by angulation or small rounded tooth..................... 19

13. Pygidium granulate; mesosternal processes bifid.................................. Odontophotopsis bellona Mickel

- Pygidium glabrous; mesosternum with either only a single tooth on each side of the midline, or with two teeth on each side of the midline separated by a distance greater than their height and forming a square................................ 14

14. Marginal cell approximately 0.5 × length of stigma; mesosternum with two teeth on each side of the midline separated by a distance greater than their height and forming a square......................... Odontophotopsis quadrispinosa Schuster

- Marginal cell approximately equal to or longer than, the length of stigma; mesosternum with only a single tooth on each side of the midline........................................................................................ 15

15. Clypeus posteromedially tuberculate............................................ Odontophotopsis armata Mickel

- Clypeus lacking posteromedial tubercle................................................................. 16

16. S2 lacking a felt line.......................................................... Odontophotopsis serca Viereck

- S2 with a felt line................................................................................... 17

17. Posterior margin of head quadrate; clypeus depressed below dorsal margin of mandible, appearing concave....................................................................................... Odontophotopsis melicausa (Blake)

- Posterior margin of head rounded; clypeus level with dorsal margin of mandible or slightly below it................. 18

18. Apex of mandible slightly less than vertical (fig. 13); mesosternal processes anteromedially situated.............................................................................................. Odontophotopsis clypeata Schuster

- Apex of mandible obviously not vertical, half way between vertical and horizontal (45º) to 60º (fig. 14); mesosternal processes situated more lateral and slightly more posterior than for previous species......... Odontophotopsis microdonta Ferguson

19. Mandible lacking distinct ventral excision (fig. 15); pygidium glabrous.................. Odontophotopsis piute Mickel

- Mandible with distinct ventral excision, although excision may be shallow or weak; pygidium granulate.............. 20

20. Mandible broadly dilated apical to ventral excision; metasternum tridentate; sternal felt lines absent; head with posterior margin quadrate........................................................... Odontophotopsis inconspicua (Blake)

- Mandible parallel to slightly dilated apical to ventral excision; metasternum bidentate; sternal felt lines present; head with posterior margin rounded................................................................................ 21

21. Mesosternal processes tall and conspicuous; distal third of mandible dilated............ Odontophotopsis acmaea Viereck

- Mesosternal processes low and indistinct; distal third of mandible attenuated............ Odontophotopsis aufidia Mickel

22. Clypeus overhangs closed mandibles and mandibles with a weak or nonexistent ventral excision................................................................................................. Odontophotopsis sonora Schuster

- Clypeus does not overhang closed mandibles or mandibles with distinct ventral excision........................... 23

23. S2 lacking felt line.................................................................................. 24

- S2 with distinct felt line.............................................................................. 29

24. Mandible with a weak ventral excision and small ventral tooth............................................... 25

- Mandible with a strong ventral excision and large ventral tooth (fig. 19).................. Sphaeropthalma orestes (Fox)

25. Cuspis of genitalia cylindrical, setae simple throughout..................................................... 26

- Cuspis of genitalia dorsoventrally flatten, spatulate, with ventral setae plumose towards apex....................... 28

26. Clypeus lacking medial raised area or longitudinal carina posteriorly; mandibles broadly dilated, especially ventral portion apically, distally much wider than width at ventral angulation, apex vertical (see Pitts 2006: Fig. 7 ); clypeus deeply depressed below mandibular rims; parameres lacking large tuft of inward directed setae along ventral margin at base of paramere (see Pitts 2006: Fig. 19).................................................................................. 27

- Clypeus with medial raised area or longitudinal carina present posteriorly; mandibles not dilated apically, apex oblique; clypeus not depressed below mandibular rims; parameres with inward directed setae along ventral margin at base of paramere; head rounded posteriorly..................................................... Sphaeropthalma arota (Cresson)

27. Mandibles very broadly dilated, especially ventral portion apically, distally much wider than width at ventral angulation ( Fig. 7 ); clypeus very deeply depressed below mandibular rims; wings yellowish-hyaline Sphaeropthalma megagnathos Schuster

- Mandibles moderately dilated, distally little or scarcely wider than at tooth (fig. 18); clypeus moderately depressed; wings dark brown to black........................................................... Sphaeropthalma edwardsii (Blake)

28. Mandibles with dorsal carina sharp, blade-like to apex of mandible, mandible vertical throughout (fig. 21); length of clypeal apical truncation greater than 0.6 × width........................................... Sphaeropthalma uro (Blake)

- Mandibles with dorsal carina becoming obsolete distally, distal portion of mandible oblique; length of clypeal apical truncation less than 0.5 × width.......................................................... Sphaeropthalma amphion (Fox)

29. Cuspis of genitalia cylindrical without setae plumose; S2 usually not tumid basally (if second sternite of metasoma is tumid, marginal cell is shorter than stigma); S2 with well-developed felt lines (if felt lines are tuft-like, integument is dark)..... 30

- Cuspis of genitalia dorsoventrally flatted, spatulate, apex with ventral setae plumose; S2 tumid basally, protuberant, strongly carinate on the tumidity; S2 with tuft-like felt lines................................ Sphaeropthalma parkeri Schuster

30. Sternal felt line tuft-like; mandibles weakly excised ventrally; mandibles vertical and broadly dilated, especially ventral portion apically, distally much wider than width at ventral angulation (see Pitts 2006: Fig. 6 ); second metasomal segment and mesosoma black or blackish and second segment with pubescence variable from orange to silver (see Pitts 2006: Fig. 28)............................................................................ Sphaeropthalma marpesia (Blake)

- Sternal felt line well-developed; mandibles weakly to strongly excised ventrally; mandibles oblique, not dilated apically; integument stramineous to castaneous (some specimens of S. mendica can have darken integument but mandibles are obviously oblique)........................................................................................... 31

31. Mandibles with the dorsal ridge angulately produced about half-way between base and apex, the dorsal carina suddenly becoming obsolete....................................................... Sphaeropthalma angulifera Schuster

- Mandibles without the dorsal ridge auguliform-produced about half-way between base and apex, the dorsal carina gradually becomes obsolete.................................................................................... 32

32. Pygidium granulate; apex of mandible oblique; marginal cell longer than stigma as measured along costal margin; mandible with a weak ventral excision and small ventral tooth............................... Sphaeropthalma mendica (Blake)

- Pygidium glabrous; apex of mandible vertical; marginal cell longer than stigma as measured along costal margin; mandible with a strong ventral excision and large ventral tooth......................................................... 33

33. Cuspis of genitalia ~0.5 × free length of paramere; marginal cell ~1.25 × length of stigma; metasoma with dense white plumose fringes, integument usually castaneous around felt lines.................... Odontophotopsis microdonta Ferguson

- Cuspis of genitalia length various; marginal cell length equal to or shorter than that of stigma; metasoma with weak white plumose fringes or lacking them altogether................................................................... 34

35. Angle formed by ventral mandibular excision (obtuse) greater than 90 degrees; cuspis of genitalia ~0.5 × free length of paramere................................................................... Sphaeropthalma becki Ferguson

- Angle formed by ventral mandibular excision (acute) less than 90 degrees; cuspis of genitalia much longer or much shorter..... 36

36. T2–6 lacking fringes of plumose setae; cuspis of genitalia in lateral view slightly surpassing the apex of the penis valve (cuspis less than 0.25 × the free length of the paramere)................................... Sphaeropthalma nana (Ashmead)

- At least T2 fringe with plumose setae medially; cuspis of genitalia in lateral view greatly surpassing the apex of the penis valve (cuspis ~0.75 × the free length of the paramere)............................................................ 37

37. First segment of metasoma sessile with second segment; setae of cuspis of similar length throughout............................................................................................ Sphaeropthalma yumaella Schuster

- First segment of metasoma petiolate with second segment; apex of cuspis with a ventral tuft of setae that is longer than at the base of the cuspis.................................................................................... 38

38. Apex of mandible attenuated; S2 not tumid basally; cuspis of genitalia with dense straight setae mostly along internal margin; marginal cell ~1 × length of stigma.............................................. Sphaeropthalma pallida (Blake)

- Apex of mandible parallel; S2 tumid basally, protuberant, strongly carinate on the tumidity; cuspis of genitalia with dense apical tuft of downward directed setae that are curled at the tips; marginal cell ~0.75 × length of stigma or less......................................................................................... Sphaeropthalma difficilis (Blake)

39 S2 having median pit filled with setae ..................................................................... 40 - S2 lacking median pit ........................................................... Dasymutilla arenivaga Mickel

40 Setae on dorsum of mesosoma orange to yellow ................................... Dasymutilla gloriosa (de Saussure)

- Setae on dorsum of mesosoma black ...................................................................... 41

41 Pronotum emarginate anteromedially; yellow/orange setae covering apical margin of T2 ......... Dasymutilla chisos Mickel

- Pronotum not emarginate anteromedially; yellow/orange setae covering apical half of T2 ....... Dasymutilla satanus Mickel

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).