Sphaeropthalma fergusoni Pitts

Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A. & Boehme, Nicole F., 2010, Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California, Zootaxa 2553, pp. 1-34 : 21-23

Sphaeropthalma fergusoni Pitts , NEW SPECIES

Diagnosis of male. This species is can be recognized by its quadrate head, the thickened apex of the clypeus ( Fig. 41 ), the mid coxa with a median denticle present on the inner margin and diagnostic genitalia with which it shares features only with S. arnalduri , sp. nov. (Fig. 65), while lacking any mesosternal processes.

Description of male. Coloration ( Figs 41–43 ). Body testaceous; flagellum and legs stramineous to concolorous with body, sometime femur infuscated; metasoma varies from stramineous to testaceous. Body clothed with sparse, erect, brachyplumose, whitish setae. T1 with sparse plumose fringe at distal margin. T2 and S2 with sparse fringes of whitish plumose setae. T3–5 and S3–5 each with sparser, less conspicuous fringe of whitish plumose setae. Setae somewhat yellow tinged.

Figs. 59-67: Sphaeropthalma megagnathos : 59. Genitalia, ventral, dorsal, inner lateral view, and lateral view of penis valve (from Pitts 2006). Sphaeropthalma mendica : 60. Genitalia, dorsal, inner lateral view, and lateral view of penis valve (from Wilson & Pitts 2009). Sphaeropthalma pallida : 61. Genitalia, lateral view. Sphaeropthalma sublobata ; 62. Genitalia, lateral view. Figs. 63-67, Genitalia, ventral view left, dorsal view right: 63. Sphaeropthalma tetracuspis ; 64. Odontophotopsis hammetti , sp. nov.; 65. Sphaeropthalma arnalduri , sp. nov.; 66. Sphaeropthalma chandleri , sp. nov.; and 67. Sphaeropthalma mankelli , sp. nov.

Head. Head distinctly quadrate posteriorly. Mandible ( Fig. 41 ) tridentate, with weak rounded ventral tooth, lacking excision apical to tooth; dorsal carina incomplete forming slight dorsal lamella towards termination; apex oblique; mandible appearing tapered beyond excision in strict frontal view. Clypeus depressed slightly below margin of mandible, median area concave; surface of clypeus polished, almost impunctate, with few erect setae; apex truncate and distinctly thickened ( Fig. 41 ). F1 approximately 1X length of F2. Ocelli moderate in size, ocellocular distance 1.1–1.2X greatest width of lateral ocellus ( Fig. 42 ). Head weakly punctate.

Mesosoma . Sides and dorsum of pronotum coarsely punctate, dorsum with moderate, shallow punctures, sides with somewhat larger, shallower punctures. Mesonotum with weak, separated, shallow punctures. Notaulus distinct, complete. Scutellum coarsely, confluently punctate. Axillae not projecting posteriorly. Dorsum and posterior face of propodeum conspicuously, shallow reticulate, reticulations extending on to sides of propodeum, either remaining reticulate laterally or becoming coarse, punctate-reticulate. Anterolateral area of mesopleuron mostly glabrous; remainder of mesopleuron with deeper, contiguous to confluent punctures; interstitial areas sometimes micropunctate. Metapleuron polished. Mesosternal processes absent. Metasternum bidentate. Mid femur not swollen. Mid coxa with distinct to indistinct denticle located medially on inner margin. Marginal cell on costa long, 1.75– 2X length of stigma.

Metasoma. First metasomal segment petiolate. Pygidium shortened, quadrate, polished, not strongly margined; S2 with sternal felt line 0.3–0.5X length of tergal felt line. Hypopygium quadrate. Posterior margin slightly dentate medially. Genitalia with paramere acicular, only extreme apex curving dorsally; cuspis elongate,>0.9X free length of paramere, and cylindrical basally, dorsal face with central longitudinal swelling, apex spatulate, ventral face slightly concave, with basal pit, inner margin with shallow ventral notch anterior to spatulate area.

Female. Unknown.

Length. 11.5– 13 mm.

Material examined. Holotype: California, Riverside Co., Corn Springs, 24.Jun.2004, coll. K. Williams ( EMUS). Paratypes: California, Riverside Co., Deep Canyon: 1 male, 2. May.1936, 1 male, 15. May.1969, 3 males, 16. May.1963, 1 male, 19. May.1973, 2 males, 6–13. Jun.1969, 1 male, 13. Jun.1963, 1 male, 20– 24. Jun.1969, 2 males, 24–26. Jun.1969, 1 male, 1.2. Jul.1969, 1 male, 3–7. Jul.1969, 3 males, 10–12. Jul.1969, 2 males, 19–21. Jul.1969, 1 male, 23–24. Jul.1969, 1 male, 26–28. Jul.1969, 1 male, 30–31. Jul.2007, 1 male, 7– 9. Aug.1969, 1 male, 9–11. Aug.1969, 2 male, 11–13. Aug.1969, 1 male, 16–17. Aug.1969, 1 male, 5– 9.Sep.1969 ( UCRC, EMUS).

Distribution. Known only from Corn Springs and Deep Canyon.

Etymology. Named after W.E. Ferguson who surveyed the mutillids of the Nevada Test Site in 1967 and published several critical papers on nocturnal mutillids.

Remarks. This species belongs in a new S. fergusoni species-group, which also includes S. arnalduri , sp. nov., which is described later in this paper. The genitalia of S. arnalduri (Fig. 65) are quite similar to S. fergusoni , which were not illustrated. There are, however, other characters that are distinct between these species making the distinction of the two species credible.

This species has tubercles on the hind coxae similar to those of S. blakeii . They are difficult to see in most cases being obscured by setae. The morphology of the mandibles coupled with that of the clypeus make this species distinctive enough to be identified.

In Fig. 43 , the black coloration of the gena is caused by some kind of oily substance that leaks out of older specimens; under natural circumstances, the gena should be the same color as the remainder of the head and actually is on the other side of the head of this individual.

Figures

FIGURES 38 – 43. Sphaeropthalma chandleri, sp. nov.: 38. Head, anterior view; and 39. Habitus. Sphaeropthalma fergusoni, sp. nov.: 40. Pygidium, dorsal view; 41. Head anterior view; 42. Head, dorsal view; and 43. Habitus.