Odontophotopsis obscura (Cockerell) Cockerell, 2009

Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A. & Boehme, Nicole F., 2009, Velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of the Algodones sand dunes of California, USA, Zootaxa 2131, pp. 1-53 : 26-28

Odontophotopsis obscura (Cockerell) , NEW COMBINATION

Odontophotopsis (Odontophotopsis) territa obscura Schuster, 1958 . Ent. Amer. (n. s.) 37: 59. Male.

Diagnosis of male. This species has a head that is rounded posteriorly, has deeply excised mandibles that are slightly dilated apically, lacks a tubercle situated posteromedially on the clypeus, and has an elongate clypeus that is level with the mandibular margins, has a pair of denticulate mesosternal processes, and has a shiny glabrous pygidium. The genitalia are illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15 .

Diagnosis of female. The female of this species can be recognized by the ventral margin of the mandible being excised and having a rounded tooth ( Fig. 34 ), flagellomere 1 being as long as flagellomere 2, the lateral margins of the posterior half of the mesosoma being parallel in dorsal view, the first segment of the metasoma being petiolate with the second, the second metasomal segment being of normal length, ~ 1X as long as anterior width or just slightly greater, the pygidium being weakly striate to granulate, and by the dense appressed setae present on the dorsum that obscure the integumental sculpture and are distinctly plumose at the base of the setal shaft becoming simple apically.

Description of female: Coloration and Setal Pattern. Body reddish brown to brown ( Figs. 78–81 ); posterior margin of T2 and metasomal segments 3–6 slightly darker. Mandible apices black. Flagellum and legs stramineous. Dorsum covered with dense depressed plumose setae that conceal sculpture. Plumose condition of setae stronger at base, becoming brachyplumose towards tip. Dense erect white brachyplumose setae present on body, especially on pleurae. T2–5 and S2–5 with dense fringe of white plumose setae. Legs with white brachyplumose setae.

Head. Head rounded posteriorly ( Fig. 78 ), not as wide as mesosoma, moderately punctate, in lateral view rounded dorsally. Eye slightly ovate, distance from posterior mandibular articulation ~ 4X visible length of pedicel. Genal region below eyes parallel in lateral view. Clypeus protruding anteriorly, posteromedially produced into low triangular tubercle. Antennal scrobe without dorsal carina. Antennal tubercle carinate, outlining shield-like region. Flagellomere I ~1.0X length of pedicel. Flagellomeres II–III ~1.0–1.2X length of pedicel. Mandible bidentate with weak internal tooth ( Fig. 34 ). Dorsal mandibular carina without tooth-like projection at anterior termination of carina. Ventral mandibular margin with large basal tooth. Genal carina absent. Hypostomal region produced medially into lamella.

Mesosoma. Mesosoma hexagonal, as wide as long ( Fig. 80 ). Mesosoma densely confluently punctate on dorsum. Humeral angle dentate. Scutellar scale and transverse sinuate carina absent. Mesosternum with low transverse tubercle present medially just anterior to mesocoxa. Metasternum tridentate. Propodeum with distinct dorsal and vertical faces.

Metasoma. Segment 1 distinctly petiolate with segment 2 ( Fig. 79 ). T1 with small sparse punctures. T2 with dense moderate punctures throughout. T2 with felt line, ~0.25X length of tergite. T2–5 and S2–5 with dense fringes. T3–5 shagreened. T6 with distinct pygidial area ( Fig. 81 ) defined laterally by carinae, surface finely striate longitudinally, striae somewhat beadlike such that surface may appear granulate at certain angles, apical margin produced medially. S2 with slight anteromedian tumid region. S2–5 with punctation similar to tergites.

Neotype data. California, Imperial Co. , 3 mi NW Glamis, 15–16.Sep.1972, M.S. Wasbauer and A. Hardy (CDFA).

Material examined. California, Imperial Co. : Algodones Dunes: Cahuilla Ranger Station. 7 females, 18 males, 11–15.Sep.2007, R. Kimsey, L. Kimsey, and T.J. Zavortink ( UCDC), 33 males, 22.Sep–15.Nov.2008, E. Dreyfus ( UCDC); Coachella Canal Rd., 18.1 km NW Glamis, 14 males, 30.May–3.Jun.2008, Museum Survey Team ( UCDC); Roadrunner Campgrd., 10.7 km SW Glamis, 1 male, 31.May–3.Jun.2008, Museum Survey Team ( UCDC); Gecko Rd. 3.2 km S Cahuilla Ranger Sta., 2 males, 7.Jun.2008, R.B. Kimsey and T.J. Zavortink ( UCDC); Wash Rd., 0.7 km W at railroad post 168, 10.4 km SE Hwy 78, 3 males, 18–22.Sep.2008, R.B. Kimsey and T.J. Zavortink ( UCDC); Wash Rd., 7 km SE Hwy. 78, 1 male, 9–10.Jun.2008, R.B. Kimsey and T.J. Zavortink ( UCDC); Wash Rd., 4.1 km SE Hwy. 78, 3 males, 18–22.Sep.2008, R.B. Kimsey and T.J. Zavortink ( UCDC); Wash Rd., 6.6 km SE Hwy. 78, 4 males, 7–10.Jun.2008, R.B. Kimsey and T.J. Zavortink ( UCDC). Glamis, 7.5 km N, 1 female, 6 males, 11–15.Sep.2007, R. Kimsey, L. Kimsey, and T.J. Zavortink ( UCDC); Glamis, 8 km S, 4 males, 11–15.Sep.2007, R. Kimsey, L. Kimsey, and T.J. Zavortink ( UCDC); Glamis: 34 females, 26.May.1971, M.S. Wasbauer and M.E. Irwin ( CDFA); 2 males, 29.May.1971, M.S. Wasbauer ( CDFA); 2 females, 24.Apr.1972, M.S. Wasbauer ( CDFA); 47 females, 22.Apr.1971, A. Hardy and M. Irwin ( LACM); Glamis, 2 mi. N, 2 females, 22.May.1975, D.G. Manley ( DGMC); Glamis, 3 mi. NW Glamis, 3 females, 7–12.Apr.1973, M.S. and J.S. Wasbauer ( CDFA), 32 females, 26.May.1971, M.S. Wasbauer and M.E. Irwin ( CDFA), 14 females, 24.Apr.1972, M.S. Wasbauer ( CDFA), 15 males, 15–16.Sep.1972, M.S. Wasbauer and A. Hardy ( CDFA), 22 males, 10.Sep.1974, M.S. Wasbauer and R. McMaster ( CDFA), 4 females, 7–12.Apr.1973, M.S. and J.S. Wasbauer ( CDFA), 72 females, 9.Apr. 1972, A. Hardy ( LACM), 7 females, 24.Mar. 1972, A. Hardy ( LACM); Glamis, 5 mi. N, 1 female, 22.May.1975, D.G. Manley ( DGMC); Glamis, 5 mi SW, 2 females, 95 males, 23.Jul.2005, K.A. Williams ( EMUS); Glamis, 6 mi. W, 1 female, 5.Aug.1966, M.S. Wasbauer; Glamis, 5 mi. SSE, 32°55’55”N, 115°0’31”W, 1 female, 10.Apr.1979 ( CDFA); Regina, ~20 SE Niland, 5 females, 4.Jul.1971, A. Hardy ( LACM); S. Ruthven, 1 female, 28.Apr.2001, 1 female, 30.IV.2001, D.C. Hawks, and D. Yanega ( UCRC).

DNA voucher specimen data. California, Imperial Co. : Algodones Dunes: 5 mi SW Glamis, 1 male, 23.Jul.2005, K.A. Williams, JP 273; 1 male, 5.Aug.2005, K.A. Williams, JP715, 1 female, 23.Jul.2005, K.A. Williams, KW17 ( EMUS).

Distribution. Southern California and southwestern Arizona.

Remarks. This species is particularly abundant on the Algodones Sand Dunes. Odontophotopsis obscura was formerly recognized as a subspecies of O. territa ( Schuster, 1958) . The genetic distances between O. obscura and O. territa are 2.1% for ITS1 and 3.8% for ITS2. These distances are comparable to interspecific distances found in other mutillid species ( Pilgrim and Pitts, 2006; Pitts et al., 2007; Pilgrim et al., 2008; Wilson and Pitts, 2008). The intersexual distance for O. obscura , however, is much less than 1% for both ITS1 and ITS2 (Table 1). Morphologically, O. territa and O. obscura differ in that the cuspis of O. obscura has a more enlarged pit and is shortened in length. Also O. territa has the ocellar area piceous and S2 with scattered, fine punctures that may be subconfluent at the base, but polished elsewhere, while O. obscura has the ocellar area concolorous with the surrounding area, and S2 coarsely, rugosely punctured over most of its area. As such, we consider this subspecies as a species here. The holotype of this species has been lost. We designate a neotype to aid future taxonomists with this difficult group of wasps.

Figures

FIGURES 7 – 22. Dorsal view of genitalia, except Figs. 15, 17, 19, and 21 lateral view of cuspis. 7. Odontophotopsis ambigua; 8. O. arcuata; 9. O. aufidia; 10. O. biramosa; 11. O. clypeata; 12. O. inconspicua; 13. O. melicausa; 14 and 15. O. obscura; 16 and 17. O. parva; 18 and 19. O. quadrispinosa; 20 and 21 O. sonora; and 22. O. villosa.

FIGURES 31 – 46. Lateral view of mandible, 31 – 40 female and 41 – 46 male. 31. O. arcuata; 32. O. inconspicua; 33. O. melicausa; 34. O. obscura; 35. O. parva; 36. O. villosa; 37. Sphaeropthalma blakeii; 38. S. difficilis; 39. S. militaris; 40. S. triangularis; 41. O. ambigua; 42. O. arcuata; 43. O. aufidia; 44. O. melicausa; 45. O. becki; and 46. O. django.

FIGURES 71 – 84. Odontophotopsis inconspicua, female: 71. head, anterior view; 72. lateral view; and 73. dorsal view of mesosoma, anterior left. Sphaeropthalma militaris, female: 74. head, anterior view; 75. head, lateral view; 76. lateral view; and 77. dorsal view of mesosoma, anterior left. O. obscura, female: 78. head, anterior view; 79. lateral view; 80. dorsal view of mesosoma, anterior top; and 81. pygidium. O. parva, female: 82. head, anterior view; 83. lateral view; and 84. dorsal view of mesosoma, anterior top.