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 serca Viereck, 1904 ( Figs 8 , 16 ) Odontophotopsis sercus Viereck, 1904: 87 , 3. Holotype : Mexico , Lower California (ANSP). Diagnosis . MALE. This species can be recognized by the lack of a clypeal tubercle, by having deeply excised mandibles with a vertical apex ( Fig. 8 ), by having simple but prominent mesosternal processes, and by lacking a sternal felt line. Genitalia are illustrated in Fig. 16 . FEMALE. Unknown. Material examined. Type material. Holotype of O. sercus : Mexico , Lower California , type no. 4979 ( ANSP ). Other material. Nevada, Nye Co., AMNWR: Non-dune site 1: 1 ♂, LT, 26–28.V.2009 , 3 ♂, LT, 23–25.VI.2009 , 3 ♂, LT, 21–23.VII.2009 , 1 ♂, LT, 18–23.IX.2009 , NFB ; Non-dune site 2: 1 ♂, LT, 8–15.VI.2009 , NFB & DAT, 5 ♂, LT, 23–25.VI.2009 , 5 ♂, LT, 21–23.VII.2009 , 6 ♂, LT, 17–19.VIII.2009 , 2 ♂, LT, 16–18.X.2009 , NFB ; Non-dune site 3: 1 ♂, LT, 23–25.VI.2009 , 2 ♂, LT, 21–23.VII.2009 , NFB ; Non-dune site 4: 1 ♂, LT, 21–23.VII.2009 , NFB ; Sand dune site 4: 1 ♂, LT, 21–23.VII.2009 , NFB ; Non-dune site 5: 4 ♂, LT, 13.VI.2008 , NFB & DAT, 1 ♂, LT, 4–6.IX.2009 , NFB . Distribution. USA (Arizona, California and Nevada), Mexico (Baja California). Activity. Males were active throughout the summer and into mid-autumn (June through mid-October). Remarks. Odontophotopsis serca were collected significantly more often in non-sand dune habitats than in sand dune habitats (U=24, p=0.02). Thirty-seven O. serca males were collected from May through October at light traps. Sixteen O. microdonta males were found at the NTS via light and mammal traps ( Ferguson 1967 ). Odontophotopsis serca unlike O. armata lacks a felt line on the second metasomal sternite and can be easily confused with this species. The clypeal tubercle, however, is distinct in O. armata . This species, along with O. melicausa , has a tendency to develop a slight secondary mesosternal tubercle posterior to the primary one. Sometimes this can be unilateral ( Ferguson 1967 ). The taxonomy is discussed in more detail in Pitts et al. (2009) .