Odontophotopsis

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 : 33-34

Odontophotopsis sp.: unassociated female

Diagnosis of female. The female of this species can be recognized by the ventral margin of the mandible lacking a distinct angulation, flagellomere 1 being equal to flagellomere 2 in length, the mesosoma being approximately rectangular in dorsal view (Fig. 92), the first segment of the metasoma being petiolate with the second, the second metasomal segment being elongate, ~ 2X as long as anterior width or just slightly greater, the pygidium being longitudinally striate, 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 (Figs. 91, 92).

Description of female: Coloration and Setal Pattern. Body testaceous to stramineous (Figs. 91, 92). Legs and flagellum stramineous. Body covered with sparse erect white brachyplumose setae as well as decumbent white setae that are distinctly plumose basally, but simple towards tips. Legs with white brachyplumose setae.

Head. Head rounded posteriorly, not as wide as mesosoma, moderately punctate; in lateral view rounded. Genal region below eyes parallel in lateral view. Eye ovate (Fig. 91), distance from posterior mandibular articulation ~2.5X visible length of pedicel. Clypeus protruding anteriorly, posteromedially produced into low triangular tubercle. Antennal scrobe without dorsal carina. Antennal tubercle with shield-like region outlined by carinae. Flagellomere I ~0.75X length of pedicel. Flagellomeres II–III ~1.0–1.2X length of pedicel. Flagellomeres II–X produced apically on ventral side; appearing crenulate. Mandible edentate apically. Ventral mandibular margin with basal tooth. Genal carina absent. Hypostomal carina not lamellate medially. Mesosoma. Mesosoma rectangular in dorsal view (Fig. 92), wider anteriorly than posteriorly, longer than broad. Mesosoma densely confluently punctate on dorsum. Propleuron anteriorly, mesopleuron medially running vertically, and lateral margin of propodeum with extreme ventral region punctate. Humeral angle dentate. Epaulet prominent. Scutellar scale absent. Mesosternum with low transverse tubercle present medially just anterior to mesocoxa. Metasternum tridentate. Propodeum with distinct dorsal and lateral faces. Hind spurs with serrations along entire length.

Metasoma. Segment 1 distinctly sessile with segment 2. T1 with small sparse punctures. T2 elongate, length ~ 2X anterior width. T2 with dense moderate punctures throughout. T2 with felt line, 0.2X length of tergite. T3–5 shagreened. T6 with distinct pygidial area defined laterally by weak carinae, apex rounded; surface longitudinally striate, striae bead-like. S2 with slight anteromedian tumid region. S2–5 with punctation similar to tergites.

Length. ~ 2–3 mm.

Material examined. California, Imperial Co. : Glamis, cereal bowl pit trap, 1 female, 29.May.1971, M. Wasbauer ( CDFA); Glamis, 3 mi. NW, 1 female 16.Oct.1972, M.S. Wasbauer ( CDFA).

Distribution. Southern California.

Remarks. We were unable to procure fresh specimens of this species to make a sex association. The identity of this female is perplexing. Morphologically, the female is similar to other females of the O. parva species-group, and may be the unknown female of O. aufidia . This female, however, is minuscule in size, being only a forth to a fifth as large as the average males of O. aufidia . Phoretic copulation is unknown in these nocturnal genera; therefore, the sexes of conspecifics are expected to be more similar in size. The only species currently known only from males from the dunes that match these females closely in size are O. quadrispinosa and Sphaeropthalma becki . As this female is morphologically similar to other Odontophotopsis females, the most likely candidate is O. quadrispinosa with which it shares its small size and mandibles with a distinct ventral tooth. Another possibility is that the male of this species remains unknown or is described, but not has been collected on the dunes yet. We do not believe that there is enough evidence to associate the female at this time.