Odontophotopsis ambigua Mickel

Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A. & Boehme, Nicole F., 2009, Velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of the Algodones sand dunes of California, USA, Zootaxa 2131, pp. 1-53 : 20-21

Odontophotopsis ambigua Mickel

Odontophotopsis ambigua Mickel , from Clausen and Mickel, 1983. Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer. 76: 539. Male. Holotype data: Palm Springs, California, Fall, 1932, T. Zschokke (UMSP).

Diagnosis of male. This species has a head that is rounded posteriorly, deeply excised mandibles that are not dilated apically ( Fig. 41 ), a tubercle situated posteromedially on the clypeus, a pair of denticulate mesosternal processes, and a shiny glabrous pygidium. The genitalia are illustrated in Fig. 7 .

Female. Unknown.

Material examined. California, Imperial Co., Algodones Dunes : Gecko Rd. 3.2 km S. Cahuilla Ranger Sta., 1 male, 7.Jun.2008, R. Kimsey and T. Zavortink ( UCDC); Wash Rd., 0.7 km W, Rail Road Post 168, 9 males, 18–22.Sep.2008, R. Kimsey and T. Zavortink ( UCDC); Glamis, 3 mi. NW, 2 males, 15–16.Sep.1972, M.S. Wasbauer and A. Hardy ( CDFA).

Distribution. Southern California and southwestern Arizona.

Remarks. This species can be easily confused with O. melicausa , but they differ in the shape of the mandible. The mandibles of O. ambigua are not dilated beyond the ventral excision as in O. melicausa . This species is rare, and is not endemic to the Algodones Sand Dunes.

Figures

FIGURES 31 – 46. Lateral view of mandible, 31 – 40 female and 41 – 46 male. 31. O. arcuata; 32. O. inconspicua; 33. O. melicausa; 34. O. obscura; 35. O. parva; 36. O. villosa; 37. Sphaeropthalma blakeii; 38. S. difficilis; 39. S. militaris; 40. S. triangularis; 41. O. ambigua; 42. O. arcuata; 43. O. aufidia; 44. O. melicausa; 45. O. becki; and 46. O. django.

FIGURES 7 – 22. Dorsal view of genitalia, except Figs. 15, 17, 19, and 21 lateral view of cuspis. 7. Odontophotopsis ambigua; 8. O. arcuata; 9. O. aufidia; 10. O. biramosa; 11. O. clypeata; 12. O. inconspicua; 13. O. melicausa; 14 and 15. O. obscura; 16 and 17. O. parva; 18 and 19. O. quadrispinosa; 20 and 21 O. sonora; and 22. O. villosa.