Dilophotopsis paron (Cameron, 1896)

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 : 334-335

Dilophotopsis paron (Cameron, 1896)

Sphaerophthalma [sic] paron Cameron, 1896 . Biol. Cent.-Amer. 37: 381. ♂. Syntype data : Mexico, Northern Sonora ( BMNH). Dilophotopsis concolor sonorensis Schuster, 1958 . Ent. Amer. 37: 88. ♂. Holotype data : Arizona, Gila Bend ( UMSP). Synonymized by Wilson & Pitts (2008).

Diagnosis of male. The male of this species has mesosternal armature, a flattened hypopygidium that is emarginated apically and carinate laterally, a metasoma that is darker than the head and mesosoma or has the integument of the mesosoma at least darkened under felt lines, and the cuspis of the genitalia is dorsoventrally flattened and uniquely elbowed (see Wilson & Pitts 2008: Figs 12–14 ). However, this species does not have parameres that overlap in situ. The mandibles are similar to Acrophotopsis campylognatha illustrated by Pitts et al. (2010a: Fig. 2 ).

Female. Unknown.

Material examined. Dilophotopsis concolor sonorensis Holotype data: Arizona, Gila Bend , 24 Apr 1935, F.H. Parker (UMSP). JTNP: 18–21.Jul.2012: 49 ♂ N9; 11 ♂ N7; 41 ♂ N5; 7 ♂ N3; 5 ♂ N1; 1 ♂ S11; 2 ♂ S13; 132 ♂ S18. 26–28.Aug.2012: 1 ♂ S1; 2 ♂ S3; 1 ♂ S7; 2 ♂ S11; 2 ♂ S18. 22–24.Sep.2012: 3 ♂ S11; 3 ♂ S13.

Distribution. USA (Arizona, California, and Nevada) and northern Mexico (Baja California). Activity. This species seems to be active earlier in the season at JTNP.

Remarks. This genus was reviewed by Wilson & Pitts (2008) and Wilson & Pitts (2010a), where they discovered that this species is morphologically and molecularly distinct from the other three subspecies, and raised it to the species level from the subspecies level. Its taxonomic position is discussed in Pitts (2003: see remarks for Acrophotopsis dirce ). Although this species is found in the Mojave Desert (e.g. Ferguson 1967; Boehme et al. 2012), this species seems to be more abundant in more southern areas of the Mojave Desert and into the Sonoran Desert ( Table 2 & 3; e.g. Pitts et al. 2010a).

Figures

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

FIGURES 13 – 18. Odontophotopsis dalyi, sp. nov., genitalia, 13. ventral view, 14. dorsal view; Odontophotopsis odontoloxia, sp. nov., genitalia, 15. ventral view, 16. dorsal view; and Photomorphus schoenwerthi, sp. nov., genitalia, 17. ventral view, 18. dorsal view.

FIGURES 1 – 4. Odontophotopsis dalyi, sp. nov., 1. habitus; 2. head, frontal view; 3. mesosternum; and 4. pygidium.