Velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of the Algodones sand dunes of California, USA Author Pitts, James P. Author Wilson, Joseph S. Author Williams, Kevin A. Author Boehme, Nicole F. text Zootaxa 2009 2131 1 53 journal article 10.5281/zenodo.188392 4683115e-4971-4b8f-bb75-1a3f9b104521 1175-5326 188392 Odontophotopsis aufidia Mickel Odontophotopsis ( Odontophotopsis ) aufidia Mickel, 1983 . Ann. Amer. Ent. Soc. 76: 541. Male. Holotype data: Taft, California, 12 Jun 1942 , W.C. Cook (UMSP). Diagnosis of male. This species possesses the following combination of characters: the mandible is excised ventrally forming an angle and tapering towards the apex ( Fig. 43 ), the mesosternum only has one pair of distinct spines that are prominent, subconical, acute at apex, and separated by a wide U-shaped sinus, the metasternum is bidentate, and the pygidium is granulate, but is not defined laterally by carinae. The genitalia are illustrated in Fig. 9 . Female. Unknown. Material examined. California , Imperial Co. , Glamis , 7 mi . E, 1 male , 11.Apr.1973 , M.S. Wasbauer ( CDFA ). Distribution. Southern California northward into the Californian Central Valley. Remarks. This species is abundant in the Central Valley of California, but is rare in the Coachella Valley and on the Algodones Sand Dunes. The female of this species will likely be confused with the female of O. arcuata . Mickel and Clausen (1983) suggest that this species is closely related to O. alemon , a member of the O. parva species-group. We concur and place this species in the O. parva species-group.