Sphaeropthalma parkeri 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 : 359

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4319.2.4
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1Ecf4C4A-09Ca-42B4-A105-67Dec7863Fe5
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6032675
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/ED726D24-FFB5-FFD4-FF5F-FCBCFB103907
treatment provided by	Plazi (2017-09-12 06:25:32, last updated 2024-11-24 22:44:06)
scientific name	Sphaeropthalma parkeri Schuster, 1958
status

Treatment

Sphaeropthalma (Photopsis) parkeri Schuster, 1958: 28 . ♂. Holotype data: Arizona, Ehrenberg ( UMSP).

Diagnosis of male. This species can be recognized by having mandibles that are vertical and are strongly excised ventrally with a distinct basal tooth and an apex that is tridentate and oblique (see Boehme et al. 2012: Fig. 20), the posterior margin of the head is rounded, the mesosternum lacks processes, the second metasomal sternum with a distinct tuft-like felt line, S2 with a anteromedial carinate tumid region, the pygidium is glabrous and the cuspis of the genitalia spatulate and lack plumose setae. Genitalia are illustrated in Boehme et al. (2012: Fig. 11 View FIGURES 9 – 12 ).

Female. Unknown.

Material examined. Holotype data: Arizona, Ehrenberg , 27.Apr.1939, F.H. Parker ( UMSP) . USA: California: San Bernardino County: Joshua Tree National Park, Dale Mine , 2 ♂, 25.May.2012, F. & T. Cambon ( EMUS) .

Distribution. USA (Arizona, California, and Nevada).

Activity. This species is seemingly rare at JTNP.

Remarks. This species is a member of the S. orestes species-group ( Pitts & Sadler 2015) and has characteristic genitalia with the paramere spatulate with ventral setae. It is rare throughout its range ( Table 2 & 3).

References

Boehme, N. F., Tanner, D. A., Williams, K. A. & Pitts, J. P. (2012) Faunal study of the velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) and their activity patterns and habitat preference at Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Nye County, Nevada, USA. Zootaxa, 3587, 1 - 45.

Pitts, J. P. & Sadler, E. A. (2015) Description of a new species and species-group of Sphaeropthalma Blake (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) with an updated classification of the genus. Zootaxa, 3947 (2), 282 - 288. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 3947.2.10

Schuster, R. M. (1958) A revision of the sphaeropthalmine Mutillidae of America north of Mexico. II. Entomologica Americana, 37, 1 - 130.