Odontophotopsis clypeata Schuster, 1958

Wilson, Joseph S., 2017, Nocturnal Velvet Ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Joshua Tree National Park, Riverside County, California with the description of three new species, Zootaxa 4319 (2), pp. 329-367 : 337

Odontophotopsis clypeata Schuster, 1958

Odontophotopsis (Odontophotopsis) clypeata Schuster, 1958 . Ent. Amer. (n. s.) 37: 59. ♂. Holotype data: Arizona, Tucson ( UMSP).

Diagnosis of male. This species has a head that is rounded posteriorly, deeply excised mandibles that are slightly dilated apically (see Boehme et al. 2012: Fig. 13; and Pitts et al. 2010a: Fig. 8), has a transverse clypeus that is slightly depressed below mandibular margins, but lacks a tubercle situated posteromedially on the clypeus, has a pair of denticulate mesosternal processes situated anteromedially, has a shiny glabrous pygidium and has the metasoma usually castaneous, at least around the felt lines. Genitalia are illustrated by Pitts et al. (2009: Fig. 11).

Female. Unknown.

Material examined. Holotype data: Arizona, Tucson , 26 Aug 1939, O. Bryant ( UMSP) . JTNP: 18– 21.Jul.2012: 1 ♂ N9; 3 ♂ N7; 2 ♂ N3; 3 ♂ N1; 1 ♂ T; 22 ♂ S1; 65 ♂ S3; 81 ♂ S5; 94 ♂ S7; 29 ♂ S9; 86 ♂ S11; 24 ♂ S13; 111 ♂ S18. 26–28.Aug.2012: 1 ♂ N7; 3 ♂ N3; 10 ♂ S1; 8 ♂ S3; 14 ♂ S5; 48 ♂ S7; 13 ♂ S9; 8 ♂ S11; 38 ♂ S13; 23 ♂ S18. 22–24.Sep.2012: 2 ♂ T; 17 ♂ S1; 55 ♂ S3; 49 ♂ S5; 61 ♂ S7; 29 ♂ S9; 14 ♂ S11; 45 ♂ S13; 7 6 ♂ S18. 26–28.Oct.2012: 2 ♂ S5; 20 ♂ S18.

Distribution. USA (Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah) and northern Mexico (Sonora).

Activity. This species is seemingly active throughout the season at JTNP.

Remarks. This species is widespread and common in many parts of its range and the taxonomy of this species is discussed in further detail in Pitts et al. (2009). It is placed in the O. melicausa species-group. This species is easily confused with O. microdonta . However, mandibular morphology and placement of the mesosternal tubercles differ ( Ferguson 1967).

This species is abundant throughout its range (e.g. Pitts et al. 2009, 2010a). At AMWR, this species was the most abundant (e.g. Boehme et al. 2012). At JTNP, this species was the second most abundant species ( Table 2 & 3).