Odontophotopsis mamata Schuster, 1958

Wilson, Joseph S., 2017, Nocturnal Velvet Ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Joshua Tree National Park, Riverside County, California with the description of three new species, Zootaxa 4319 (2), pp. 329-367 : 340-341

Odontophotopsis mamata Schuster, 1958

Odontophotopsis (Periphotopsis) mamata Schuster, 1958 . Ent. Amer. (n. s.) 37: 60. ♂. Holotype data: Arizona, Ehrenberg ( UMSP).

Diagnosis of male. This species can be easily recognized by the distinct mesosternal processes, which are made up of large glabrous longitudinal swellings located on either side of the midline. Genitalia are illustrated in Boehme et al. (2012: Fig. 5 ) with the paramere having a characteristic bend at approximately 0.66 × the free length from the base, and the mandibles can be viewed in Pitts et al. (2010a: Fig. 10 ).

Female. Unknown.

Material examined. Holotype data: Arizona, Ehrenberg , 12 June 1935, F.H. Parker ( UMSP) . JTNP: 18– 21.Jul.2012: 12 ♂ T; 18 ♂ S1; 3 ♂ S3; 2 ♂ S7; 1 ♂ S9; 7 ♂ S18. 26–28.Aug.2012: 10 ♂ T; 34 ♂ S1; 11 ♂ S3; 1 ♂ S5; 4 ♂ S7; 3 ♂ S18. 22–24.Sep.2012: 1 ♂ N1; 7 ♂ T; 23 ♂ S1; 5 ♂ S3; 1 ♂ S5; 2 ♂ S9; 4 ♂ S11; 2 ♂ S13; 2 ♂ S18. 26–28.Oct.2012: 2 ♂ S18.

Distribution. USA (Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah).

Activity. This species is seemingly active throughout the season at JTNP.

Remarks. This species is placed in the O. parva species-group and the taxonomy of this species is discussed in further detail in Pitts et al. (2009). This species is abundant throughout its range ( Table 2 & 3; e.g. Boehme et al. 2012), but for this study was more abundant at and south of the transition zone. It is a common species in the Sonoran Desert (e.g. Wilson et al. 2010; Pitts et al. 2010a).

Figures

FIGURES 5 – 8. Odontophotopsis odontoloxia, sp. nov., 5. habitus; 6. head, frontal view; 7. mesosternum; and 8. pygidium.

FIGURES 9 – 12. Photomorphus schoenwerthi, sp. nov., 9. habitus; 10. head, frontal view; 11. mesosternum; and 12. pygidium.