Faunal study of velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) and their activity patterns and habitat preference at Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Nye County, Nevada, USA
Author
Boehme, Nicole F.
Author
Tanner, David A.
Author
Williams, Kevin A.
Author
Pitts, James P.
text
Zootaxa
2012
2012-12-17
3587
1
45
journal article
10.11646/zootaxa.3587.1.1
20d58797-2815-434b-a9c5-5786e926af9d
1175-5326
283115
91FCB387-5D4F-4F12-ABDC-B06D7F60A271
Odontophotopsis quadrispinosa
Schuster, 1958
Odontophotopsis quadrispinosa
Schuster, 1958: 51
,
3.
Neotype
(designated by
Pitts
et al.
2009
): California, Palm Springs (UMSP).
Diagnosis
. MALE. The male of this species can easily be recognized by having the marginal cell much shorter than the stigma as measured along the costal vein, and two pair of mesosternal processes forming a square, with the anterior pair much more obvious than the posterior pair. Also, the mandibles are deeply emarginate along the ventral margin, but the mandible narrows towards the apex (see
Pitts 2007
: Fig. 67). Genitalia are illustrated by
Pitts
et al.
(2009
:
Fig. 18
). FEMALE. Unknown.
Material examined.
Type
material.
Neotype
of
O. quadrispinosa
: California, Palm Springs,
1 May 1933
, at light, Theo. Zschokke (
UMSP
).
Other material.
Nevada,
Nye Co., AMNWR: Non-dune site 5: 2 ♂, LT,
13.VI.2008
, NFB & DAT,
1 ♂, LT,
26-28.V.2009
,
1 ♂, LT,
23-25.VI.2009
, NFB.
Distribution.
USA
(Arizona, California and Nevada).
Activity.
Males were active in late spring (late May through June).
Remarks.
Odontophotopsis quadrispinosa
were too rarely encountered to determine their habitat preference. Four
O. quadrispinosa
males were collected in May and June at light traps. Thirty-five
O. quadrispinosa
males were found at the NTS via light traps, mammal trap and berlese funnel (
Ferguson 1967
).
This species is rare throughout its range and the taxonomy of this species is discussed in
Pitts
et al.
(2009)
. This species can be difficult to identify, because the mesosternal processes are weak and sometimes difficult to observe. As such, this species could be confused as a species of
Sphaeropthalma
Blake, 1871
, but the genitalia are distinct.