Sphaeropthalma jacala Schuster, 1958

Pitts, James P. & Parker, Frank D., 2005, Description of the female, redescription of the male, and host associations of the Nearctic species Sphaeropthalma jacala Schuster (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae), Zootaxa 1011 (1), pp. 55-64 : 57-62

Sphaeropthalma jacala Schuster

Sphaeropthalma (Photopsis) jacala Schuster, 1958 . Ent. Amer. (n. s.) 37: 21. Holotype: Male , Jacala, Mexico, 1938, P. Rau. NMNH Type No. 74083.

Diagnosis. —Males of this species differ from other known Sphaeropthalma by the morphology of the mandible, which is tridentate, oblique apically, and has a dorsal mandibular carina that terminates suddenly giving the appearance of a dorsal tooth. This dorsal tooth is similar in size to the basal tooth found basally on the ventral margin ( Figs. 1, 2 ). Females can be distiguished from other known species of Sphaeropthalma by the first flagellomere being longer than the second ( Fig. 6 ), the crenulate condition of the flagellum ( Fig. 6 ), the shape of the petiole ( Fig. 10 ), the absence of a laterally defined pygidium, and the setal coloration, type, and pattern, especially the presence of bands of white plumose setae on the apical margins of all of the metasomal terga ( Fig. 10 ).

Description of Male: Coloration and Setal Pattern.—Head, mesosoma and metasoma reddish­brown, except sometimes metasomal segments 3–7 darker, castaneous to piceous. Sometimes integument of metasomal segment 2 also as dark as apical metasomal segments. Legs dark yellow to concolorous with mesosoma. Antenna dark yellow to fuscous. Head and mesosoma with sparse erect brachyplumose setae and with very sparse pale golden plumose setae. Disk of T2 and S2 with very sparse erect brachyplumose setae; denser on T1, T3–7, S1 and S3–7, obscuring sculpturing. Apical margins of T2 and S2 with sparse, white, decumbent, plumose setae found on medial 0.25; much less dense on following segments. T7 with apical fringe of brachyplumose setae. Wings hyaline with pale golden setae. Pterostigma and veins yellowish brown.

Head.—Posterior margin rounded posterior to eye ( Fig. 3 ), somewhat flattened posteromedially. Punctures setigerous, fine, not much wider than base of setae, widely separated, head nitid between punctures. Compound eye protruding. Ocelli enlarged, ocellocular distance ~1.25X lateral ocellus maximum width and interocellular distance ~0.85X lateral ocellus maximum width. Malar space very short, greatest width ~0.5–0.75X length of pedicel. Scrobe ecarinate dorsally. Small tubercle present halfway between compound eye and antennal tubercle. Clypeus with median lobe projecting, slightly concave distally with slightly up­turned margin, not depressed below dorsal rim of mandible. Anterior margin of clypeus emarginate, appearing bidentate ( Fig. 1 ). Lateral margin of clypeus often slightly emarginate apically, making tubercles appear produced laterally ( Fig. 1 ). Clypeus glabrous except posteromedially weakly tuberculate with fine punctures. Mandible with three apical teeth ( Fig. 1 ). Ventral margin with moderate basal tooth 0.33X length from base ( Fig. 1 ). Mandibular dorsal carina terminating suddenly, 0.33X length from base, tooth­like, similar in appearance and size to ventral basal tooth ( Figs. 1, 2 ). Mandible strongly bent after termination of dorsal carina ( Fig. 1 ). Apex oblique with three apical teeth not in vertical plane ( Fig. 1 ). Scape with ventral carina. Length of first three flagellomeres approximately 2.75X, 2.25X, and 2.0X length of pedicel respectively. Pedicel slightly longer than wide.

Mesosoma.—Pronotum, mesonotum, and scutellum coarsely punctate. Pronotal epaulets present. Parapsidal furrows complete. Propodeum reticulate, reticulations broader anteriorly. Propodeum with two median elongate reticulations, one areolet wide and 3–5 areolets long. Laterally propodeum reticulate, 4 areolets wide. Propleuron and mesopleuron moderately punctate, punctures of mesopleuron broader than propleuron. Mesopleuron sparsely punctate anteroventrally. Metapleuron glabrous. Prosternum with fine punctures. Mesosternum unarmed, with moderate punctures. Metasternum bidentate. Coxae and trochanters unarmed. Wings with pterostigma ~0.65X length of marginal cell measured along costa. Second submarginal cell pentagonal, length ~0.8X length of marginal cell measured along costa.

Metasoma.—Petiolate. T1 nodose. Both T1–2 and S1–2 with small, shallow, sparse punctures, appearing glabrous and nitid. Punctures of T2–6 and S2–6 fine, closer spaced than previous segment. T2 with felt line. S2 lacking felt line, sometimes several micropunctures present in its place. T7 glabrous, transverse subquadrate, micropunctate along apical margin. S7 slightly longer than wide, covered with fine punctures, apical margin dentate.

Genitalia.—Paramere arcuate, stout at base, apical 0.66 acicular, slightly curved dorsally, with setae present on ventral margin ( Figs. 4, 5 ). Cuspis elongate, 0.75X length of paramere, not reaching to apex of paramere, straight with apical portion slightly dilated but tapering towards apex, basal portion cylindrical, apical portion flattened; margins with long simple setae along with bifid to trifid setae, dorsomedial area sparsely and minutely pubescent ( Figs. 4, 5 ). Inner margin of cuspis with basal pit filled with setae. Ventral margin of cuspis densely setose basal to pit ( Figs. 4, 5 ). Digitus cylindrical basally, somewhat flattened, inner corner somewhat produced apically ( Figs. 4, 5 ). Cuspis minutely pubescent ( Figs. 4, 5 ). Penis valve bidentate posteroventrally, angulate dorsally (Figs. 4,5).

Length.— 10–18 mm.

Description of Female: Coloration and Setal Pattern.—Body reddish brown ( Fig. 10 ). Legs slightly lighter than body ( Fig. 10 ). Femur sometimes darker apically. Apical margin of T2 and all of T3–6 castaneous ( Fig. 10 ). Ventral portion of flagellum slightly darker than body to fuscous. Integument castaneous around felt line. Head, scape, anterior face of pronotum, and pleura covered with pale golden brachyplumose pubescence and pale golden to white plumose pubescence ( Fig. 10 ). Propodeum similarly covered with brachyplumose setae, but plumose setae white, more dense, and obvious ( Fig. 10 ). Dorsum of mesosoma anterior to propodeal spiracles with brown brachyplumose and plumose pubescence ( Fig. 10 ). Legs with white brachyplumose setae ( Fig. 10 ). T1 with golden brachyplumose setae and white plumose setae as dense as or denser than propodeum, especially along apical margin ( Fig. 10 ). T2 disk with brown brachyplumose and plumose pubescence, plumose setae turning white laterally and apical margin with dense fringe ( Fig. 10 ). Remaining terga with golden brachyplumose setae and dense white plumose setae that become less dense on more posterior terga ( Fig. 10 ). S1–S5 with white brachyplumose and plumose setae. S6 with golden brachyplumose setae. Apical fringe of sterna with thick white plumose setae ( Fig. 10 ).

Head.—Head rounded posteriorly, not quite as wide as mesosoma, moderately punctate ( Fig. 9 ). Eyes round, distance from posterior mandibular articulation ~2.5X visible length of pedicel. Clypeus protruding anteriorly, posteromedially produced into low triangular tubercle ( Fig. 8 ). Antennal scrobes with slight tubercle present dorsally near eye. First flagellomere length ~1.8X length of pedicel. Second and third flagellomeres length ~1.4X length of pedicel. Flagellomeres 2–6 produced apically on ventral side; appearing crenulate ( Fig. 6 ). Following flagellomeres less distinctly crenulate ( Fig. 6 ). Mandible bidentate apically ( Figs. 8, 9 ). Ventral mandibular margin with basal angulation ( Figs. 8, 9 ). Genal carina absent.

Mesosoma.—Mesosoma obpyriform, longer than broad ( Fig. 7 ). Mesosoma confluently punctate on dorsum and pleura throughout. Humeral angle dentate. Epaulet prominent. Scutellar scale absent ( Figs. 7 ). Mesosternum with low transverse tubercle present medially just anterior to mesocoxa. Metasternum tridentate, median tooth ~4X as long as lateral teeth. Mid and hind tibiae with two rows of spines on outer margin and each with pair of apical spurs.

Metasoma.—Segment 1 indistinctly petiolate with segment 2 ( Fig. 10 ). Segments 1 and 2 with dense, moderate punctures. Following segments with smaller shallower more sparsely spaced punctures. T2 with felt line. S2 with slight anteromedian tumid region. S6 lacking defined pygidial area.

Length.—7.5–11.5 mm.

Reared Material Examined.— MEXICO: Jalisco, Chamela ( Est. de Biolo. ), 1986: nest 1 = 2♀; nest 2 = 1♂♂; nest 3 = 1♂; nest 4 = 1♂; nest 5 = 1♂; nest 6 = 2♂; nest 7 = 1♂; nest 8 = 2♂; nest 9 = 1♂; nest 10 = 1 ♂; nest 11 = 1♀; nest 12 = 1♂ ; Jalisco, Chamela ( Est. de Biolo. ), 1987: nest 13 = 1♂; nest 14 = 1 ♂; nest 15 = 1♂; nest 16 = 1♂; nest 17 = 1♂; nest 18 = 1♂; nest 19 = 2♂, 1♀; nest 20 = 1♂; nest 21 = 1♂; nest 22 = 2♀; nest 23 = 1♂, 1♀; nest 24 = 2♂; nest 25 = 1♀, reared by F. D. Parker ( EMUS) .

Other Material Examined.— USA: Arizona: Cochise Co. : Southwestern Research Station , 6 mi. W of Portal, 5400, 1 ♂, 2.Jul.1965 ( UAIC) ; Huachuca Mnts. , 1 ♂, 22.Aug.1975 ( UAIC) ; Santa Cruz Co., Santa Rita Mnts., Madera Cyn. , 4 ♂, 7.Jul.1959, 9.Jul.1959, 10.Jul.1959, 13.Aug.1959, coll. J.C. Franclemont ( UAIC, CUIC) . MEXICO: Coahuila, Guerrero, 7­10 km W El Ocotito , 1 ♀, 15.Sep. 1989, coll. R. Turnbow ( JPPC) ; Jalisco: Chamela , 2 ♂, 26.Sep­8.Oct.1985 coll. F.D. Parker and T. Griswold ( EMUS) ; Careyes , 3 ♂, 12.Feb­19.Mar.1997, coll. F.D. Parker ( EMUS) ; Puerto Vallarta , 1 ♂, 7.Dec. 1977, coll. G.E. Bohart ( EMUS) ; Puebla, Cacaloapan , 1 ♂, 26.Apr.1962, coll. F.D. Parker and L.A. Stange ( EMUS) .

Distribution.— Mexico (Coahuila, Hidalgo, Jalisco, and Puebla) and USA (Arizona).

Host.— Sphaeropthalma jacala was reared from the following hosts with the numbers and sexes reared from each host given in parenthesis. Centris nitida Smith (1 ♂), Trypoxylon apicipenne Cameron (4 ♂; 1 ♀), Trypoxylon lactitarse de Saussure (10 ♂; 1 ♀), Trypoxylon spinosum Cameron (1 ♂; 2 ♀), Trypoxylon tenoctitlan Richards (8 ♂), Trypoxylon (Trypargilum) sp. (1 ♂; 1 ♀), and as a hyperparasitoid of Chrysis derivata Buysson from Trypoxylon tenoctitlan (2 ♀).

Figures

FIGURES 1–7. Sphaeropthalma jacala. 1. Mandible of male, frontal view; 2. Mandible of male, lateral view; 3. Posterior portion of head of male, dorsal view; 4. Genitalia, lateral view; 5. Genitalia, ventral view left, dorsal view right; 6. Antenna of female, lateral view; 7. Mesosoma of female, dorsal view.

FIGURES 10–11. Sphaeropthalma jacala. 10. Female habitus; 11. Male habitus.

FIGURES 8–9. Sphaeropthalma jacala female. 8. Head, ventral view, punctuation and setae removed; 9. Head, frontal view.