Dasymutilla araneoides araneoides (Smith)

MANLEY, DONALD G. & PITTS, JAMES P., 2007, Tropical and Subtropical Velvet Ants of the Genus Dasymutilla Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) with Descriptions of 45 New Species, Zootaxa 1487 (1), pp. 1-128 : 24

Dasymutilla araneoides araneoides (Smith)

Mutilla araneoides Smith, 1862 . Ent. Soc. London, Trans. 1:35. Holotype female, New Spain (No. 15.483) [BMNH] (examined).

Sphaerophthalma [ sic.] anthracia Cameron, 1895. Biol. Cent.-Amer., Hym. 2:352. Holotype female, Panama, Bugaba (Champion) (No. 15.982) [ BMNH] (examined). Synonymy: Mickel (1964:163).

Sphaerophthalma [ sic.] waterhousei Cameron, 1895 . Biol. Cent.-Amer., Hym. 2:358. Holotype female, Nicaragua, San Juan del Sur [BMNH] (examined). Synonymy: Mickel (1964:163).

Diagnosis of Female ( Plate C1F ). The coloration of this species is diagnostic, having the dorsum of the body clothed with yellow and black or orange and black setae, as well as spots of pale yellow setae on tergum II that are large, nearly 0.5X the length of the segment, and are completely surrounded by black. Also, the integument of this species is entirely black, the antennal scrobe is carinate dorsally and the gena is strongly carinate, the mesosoma is longer than broad, and possesses a scutellar scale, while the mesosoma lacks sharp tubercles along the dorsopleural line.

Male. Unknown.

Distribution. Mexico (Yucatan); Costa Rica; El Salvador; Guatemala; Honduras; Nicaragua; Panama.

Remarks. This is another commonly collected species and is widely distributed through Central America. This species might be a more southern variety of D. arachnoides . Although distinctive in general appearance, the two are very similar morphologically. About a hundred specimens of this species have been examined.

Figures

PLATE 1. Male genitalia of Dasymutilla. A. D. atrata. B. D. baylegi. C. D. bimaculata. D. D. boharti. E. D. brazilia. F. D. chamela. G. D. chillcotti. H. D. fimbriata. I. D. guanacaste.