Sphaeropthalma mankelli 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 : 25-26

Sphaeropthalma mankelli Pitts , NEW SPECIES

Diagnosis of male. This species has distinctive bidentate mandibles ( Fig. 44 ) that drastically taper towards their apices and are deeply excised ventrally. Also, this species lacks mesosternal and coxal processes, but has a very small marginal cell ( Fig. 46 : approximately 0.5X the length of the stigma), which is unusual for species having a relatively large body. The genitalia are distinctive as well (Fig. 67).

Description of male. Coloration ( Figs 44, 45 ). Body testaceous; flagellum and legs stramineous; ocellular triangle infuscated. Body clothed with sparse, erect, brachyplumose, whitish setae. T1 lacking plumose fringe at distal margin. T2 and S2 with sparse fringe of whitish plumose setae. T3–5 and S3–5 each with sparser, less conspicuous fringe of whitish plumose setae. Setae tinged with yellow.

Head. Head distinctly rounded posteriorly. Mandible ( Fig. 44 ) bidentate, deeply excised ventrally, angle of excision rounded; dorsal carina incomplete; apex oblique; mandible strongly tapered beyond excision, acuminate. Clypeus depressed slightly below margin of mandible, median area concave; surface of clypeus polished, almost impunctate, with few erect setae; apex truncate. F1 approximately 0.8X length of F2. Ocelli large in size, ocellocular distance approximately 1.1X greatest width of lateral ocellus. Head only punctate at base of setae, punctures only slightly larger in width than base of setae; interstitial region glabrous; overall appearance glabrous.

Mesosoma . Sides and dorsum of pronotum coarsely punctate. Mesonotum mostly glabrous with some shallow punctures. Notaulus distinct, complete. Scutellum with small, confluent punctures. Axillae not projecting posteriorly. Dorsum and posterior face of propodeum conspicuously, shallowly reticulate, reticulations extending on to sides of propodeum, either remaining reticulate laterally or becoming coarse, punctate-reticulate. Anterolateral area of mesopleuron with moderate, shallow, separated punctures; remainder of mesopleuron with deeper, contiguous to reticulate; interstitial areas glabrous. Metapleuron polished. Mesosternal processes absent. Metasternum bidentate. Mid femur not swollen. Coxae unmodified. Marginal cell on costa extremely short, approximately 0.5X length of stigma ( Fig. 46 ).

Metasoma. First metasomal segment elongate, petiolate ( Fig. 45 ). Pygidium elongate and ovate, polished, not strongly margined; S2 with sternal felt line 0.3–0.5X length of tergal felt line. Hypopygium elongate and ovate. Genitalia (Fig. 67) with paramere acicular. Cuspis 0.5X free length of paramere; dorsoventrally flattened, spatulate, inner margin with lateral swelling at mid length; swelling with dense tuft of setae that coalesce into single point directed posteriorly.

Female. Unknown.

Length. 12 mm.

Material examined. Holotype: Deep Canyon, Riverside Co., 24.Dec.1963, at light, coll. E. Schlinger ( UCRC).

Distribution. Only known from Deep Canyon.

Etymology. Named in honor of Henning Mankell (1948–present), who is a renowned Swedish crime writer that is best known for his detective novels involving Inspector Kurt Wallander.

Remarks. This species is placed into the S. papaga species-group based on similarities in mandibular morphology (i.e., the mandible is acuminate towards the apex) and genitalia. This species group currently contains S. papaga , S. subcarinata , and S. borealis . The genitalia are similar to the first two species but differ from the latter. Sphaeropthalma mankelli can be separated from S. papaga and S. subcarinata by the lack of armature on the hind coxa, which the latter two species possess.

In Fig. 45 , the black substance on the posterior portion of the metasoma of the specimen is some kind of oily substance that leaks out of older specimens; this portion of the metasoma is actually the same color as the remainder of the metasoma. The holotype also has dermestid damage, which has destroyed one side of the mesosternum and the mid and hind coxae on one side. Also, the holotype is missing one pair of wings.

Figures

FIGURES 44 – 48. Sphaeropthalma mankelli, sp. nov.: 44. Head, anterior view; 45. Habitus; and 46. Apex of wing. Acrophotopsis campylognatha: 47. genitalia, dorsal view (scale 0.5 mm) and 48. Close up of cuspis (scale 0.2 mm) (Fig. 47. from Pitts & McHugh 2002).