Physetopoda Schuster, 1949

Lelej, Arkady S. & Williams, Kevin A., 2023, Review of the tribe Smicromyrmini Bischoff, 1920 (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae), Zootaxa 5231 (2), pp. 101-140 : 120-122

17. Physetopoda Schuster, 1949

( Figs 53–56 )

Physetopoda Schuster, 1949: 112 , ♁, ♀; Lelej 1985: 197, ♁, ♀; Lelej & Brothers 2008: 46; Brothers & Lelej 2017: 96, ♁, ♀; Williams et al. 2019: 23 , ♀; Pagliano et al. 2020: 178.

Paramyrme Lelej, 1977: 531 , ♁, ♀ (as subgenus of Smicromyrme Thomson ); Lelej 1984: 101. Type species Mutilla montana Panzer, 1805 , ♀, by original designation (junior synonym of Mutilla halensis Fabricius, 1787 , ♀, according to Panzer, 1806: 212). Junior subjective synonym of Physetopoda Schuster, 1949 according to Brothers, 1983: 441.

Type species Physetopoda insularis Schuster, 1949 , ♁ by original designation (junior subjective synonym of Mutilla rubrocincta Lucas, 1848 , ♁ according to Brothers 1983: 444).

Diagnosis. MALE. Mandible tridentate, rarely bidentate, deeply excised beneath with large subbasal tooth. Clypeus usually with transverse smooth band and two preapical tubercles. Stigmatic cell usually narrow, well- or not sclerotized with thicker posterior abscissa. T2 with lateral felt lines, S2 without any felt lines. Basivolsellar setae long, touch gonostylus apex, rarely (scutellaris group) not elongated. FEMALE. This genus is recognized by having a distinct scutellar scale and having the pygidium sides narrowed basally. In other features, this widespread and diverse genus shows considerable variation. Clypeus with curved down apical border and well visible transverse carina and medial basal tubercle. Mandible with two small preapical denticles. Scutellar scale well developed, naillike. Pygidial plate weak narrowed basally, with lateral tuft of pale (rarely black) setae. T2 with medial basal and apical spots of pale setae, rarely with apical band of pale setae, often with lateral subbasal semicircular spots of pale setae. T3 with band of pale setae.

Diversity and distribution. Forty-seven species are known (six are subdivided into multiple subspecies), mostly from the Palaearctic, though many of the Afrotropical members of Smicromyrme will likely be transferred to Physetopoda in the future and five species are known from the Oriental Region. Four are known from both sexes, 13 are based on females only, and 30 are based on males only.

Remarks. Many Palaearctic species are included in regional keys (e.g. Lelej 1985, Pagliano & Strumia 2007), but no available keys treat all, or even half, of the species.

Figures

FIGURES 53–60. 53–54. Physetopoda halensis (Fabricius, 1787), ♀: 53. Dorsal habitus, 54. Lateral habitus; 55–56. Ph. oratoria (Chen, 1957), ♁: 55. Head, face view, 56. Lateral habitus. 57–60. Promecilla regia (Smith, 1855): 57. ♀, dorsal habitus, 58. ♀, lateral habitus 59. ♁, head, face view, 60. ♁, lateral habitus. (Photographs by K. Williams).