Pseudocephalotilla Bischoff, 1920

Lelej, Arkady S. & Williams, Kevin A., 2023, Review of the tribe Smicromyrmini Bischoff, 1920 (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae), Zootaxa 5231 (2), pp. 101-140 : 124-125

20. Pseudocephalotilla Bischoff, 1920

( Figs 63–66 )

Pseudocephalotilla Bischoff, 1920: 24 (key), 1921: 514 (description), ♁; Nonveiller 1979: 15, ♁, ♀; Lelej & Brothers 2008: 49; Brothers & Lelej 2017: 96, ♁, ♀; Pagliano et al. 2020: 185.

Type species. Pseudocephalotilla beirana Bischoff, 1921 , ♁, by subsequent designation of Bischoff 1921: 514.

Diagnosis. MALE. Flagellomeres not overlapped. Mandible not widened apically, beneath with large subbasal tooth, first preapical inner tooth distinctly smaller, second preapical tooth larger than apical one. Pronotum anteriorly pulled forward with weak carina. T2 with long lateral felt lines, S2 with short lateral felt lines. Volsella without basal external lobe, with wide acuminated cuspis; basivolsella without short setae. Penis valve shortened, swollen apex curved down and oriented outside. FEMALE. Head not widened posterad, posteriorly rouded. Minimal distance between eyes 1.6–1.8 × longitudinal eye diameter. Pronotum without protruding humeral part, at most scarcely wider than propodeum. Scutellar scale more or less developed. T2 with one or three spots of pale setae disposed in central horizontal line. T1 posterodorsally with small medial spot of pale setae. Pygidial plate elongated, widened basally, longitudinally striated.

Diversity and distribution. Four species [two of them: P. atropos ( Smith, 1855) with eleven subspecies and P. tettensis (Gerstaecker in Peters, 1858) with eight subspecies] are recognized from the Afrotropical Region ( Pagliano et al. 2020).

Remarks. Based on a recent molecular phylogenetic analysis (Waldren et al. in press), this genus belongs in a new tribe. Most of the species known in this genus are included in Bischoff’s (1921) key to Smicromyrme .

Figures

FIGURES 61–66. 61–62. Psammotherma flabellata (Fabricius, 1804), ♁: 61. Lateral habitus, 62. Dorsal habitus; 63–65. Pseudocephalotillabeira (Péringuey,1914):63.♀,dorsalhabitus,64.♀,lateralhabitus,65.♁, lateralhabitus;66.Pseudocephalotilla tettensis (Gerstaecker in Peters, 1858), ♀, dorsal habitus. (Photographs by K. Williams, and D. Brothers (62–65)).