Sphaeropthalma imperialis

Pitts, James P., 2006, Review of the Sphaeropthalma imperialis species­group (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae), with descriptions of females and taxonomic notes, Zootaxa 1248, pp. 1-20 : 18-19

Key to the Sphaeropthalma imperialis species­group

Males

1. Sternal felt line absent ................................................................................................... 2

­ Sternal felt line present, tuft­like................................................................................... 3

2. 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 yellowish­hyaline ( Fig. 29 ) ............. S. megagnathos Schuster

­. Mandibles moderately dilated, distally little or scarcely wider than at tooth (e.g., Fig. 6 ); clypeus moderately depressed; wings dark brown to black ( Fig. 26 )........................ ....................................................................................................... S. edwardsii (Blake)

3. Integument of second and following metasomal segments orange ( Fig. 27 ); second segment with mostly orange pubescence ( Fig. 27 ); mesonotum and often pronotum dorsally deeply ferruginous ( Fig. 27 ); head rounded posteriorly, short and contracted behind eyes ( Fig. 1 ); clypeus at or slightly depressed below mandibular rim................ ........................................................................................................ S. imperialis (Blake)

­ Second metasomal segment and mesosoma black or blackish ( Fig. 28 ); second segment with pubescence variable from orange to silver; mesosoma entirely black ( Fig. 28 ); head quadrate posteriorly, long and parallel behind eyes ( Fig. 2 ); clypeus very deeply depressed below mandibular rim ....................................... S. marpesia (Blake)

Females

(Note: the female of S. megagnathos remains unknown)

1. Mesosoma as broad as long ( Fig. 3 ); flagellomere I less than 2X length of pedicel, subequal in length to flagellomere II; pubescence of head, mesosoma and metasoma not concolorous ( Figs. 20, 22, 25 ) ...................................................................................... 2

­ Mesosoma longer than broad; flagellomere I more than 2X length of pedicel, noticeably longer than flagellomere II; pubescence of head, mesosoma and metasoma red­

dish to orange or yellow, concolorous except plumose fringes on metasomal tergites whitish ( Fig. 24 ) ............................................................................ S. edwardsii (Blake) 2. Mesosoma with yellow setae ( Fig. 25 ); T2 not concave anteromedially; antennal scrobe having a well­developed dorsal carina ................................. S. marpesia (Blake)

­ Mesosoma with black to reddish setae ( Fig. 20, 22 ); T2 appearing concave anteromedially ( Fig. 4 , 21 ); antennal scrobe lacking a well­developed dorsal carina.............. ........................................................................................................ S. imperialis (Blake)

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 7. 1. Sphaeropthalma imperialis male, posterior portion of head in dorsal view; 2 – 4. S. marpesia: 2. male, posterior portion of head, dorsal view; 3. female mesosoma, dorsal view; 4. posterior portion of second metasomal tergite; 5. S. imperialis male, mandible, lateral view; 6. S. marpesia male, mandible, lateral view; 7. 5. S. megagnathos male, mandible, lateral view.

FIGURES 26 – 29. Males, lateral view: 26. Sphaeropthalma edwardsii; 27. S. imperialis; 28. S. megagnathos; 29. S. marpesia.

FIGURES 20 – 25. Sphaeropthalma imperialis female, dark form: 20. lateral view; 21. anterior portion of second metasomal tergite; S. imperialis female, light form: 22. lateral view; 23. pygidium, dorsal view; 24. S. edwardsii female, lateral view; 25. S. marpesia female, lateral view.