Odontophotopsis piute Mickel

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 : 22

Odontophotopsis piute Mickel in Mickel & Clausen, 1983

( Figs 7 , 15)

Odontophotopsis (Odontophotopsis) piute Mickel in Mickel & Clausen 1983: 550,

3. Holotype: California, Needles ( UMSP).

Diagnosis.MALE. This species can be recognized by the slender mandibles that are narrowed medially by a broad, shallow emargination, and lack a ventral tooth ( Fig. 15). Additionally, the tuberculate anterior margin of the clypeus, the presence of a pair of small, widely spaced tubercles on the mesosternum, and paucity of plumose hairs distinguish this species from other species. Genitalia are illustrated in Fig. 7 . FEMALE. Unknown.

Material examined. Type material. Holotype of O. piute : California, Needles , 900 ft, 22 June 1931, H.A. Scullen ( UMSP) . Other material. Nevada, Nye Co., AMNWR: Non-dune site 1: 1 ♂, LT, 26–28.V.2009, NFB ; Non-dune site 3: 1 ♂, LT, 12–14.V.2009, NFB ; Non-dune site 4: 1 ♂, LT, 23–25.VI.2009, NFB ; Sand dune site 1: 1 ♂, LT, 26.VI.2008, NFB, DAT & JPP ; Sand dune site 4: 11 ♂, LT, 9.VI.2008, NFB & DAT, 12 ♂, LT, 1 ♂, MT, 12–15.V.2009, 8 ♂, LT, 26–28.V.2009, NFB, 2 ♂, LT, 8–15.VI.2009, NFB & DAT, 5 ♂, LT, 23–25.VI.2009, 2 ♂, LT, 6–8.VII.2009, 3 ♂, LT, 21–23.VII.2009, NFB ; Sand dune site 5: 1 ♂, LT, 24.VI.2008, NFB, DAT & JPP ; Nondune site 5: 1 ♂, LT, 26–28.V.2009, 2 ♂, LT, 6–8.VII.2009, NFB.

Distribution. USA (California and Nevada).

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

Remarks. Odontophotopsis piute were distributed uniformly over sand dune and non-dune habitats (U=18, p>0.2). Fifty-two O. piute males were collected from May through July at light traps. Four O. piute males were found at the NTS in June and July, but were not published in Ferguson (1967) or allred (1973), because it remained undescribed until Mickel & Clausen (1983).

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).