SCHUSTERPHOTOPSIS Pitts, New Genus

Type species. Schusterphotopsis barghesti sp. nov.

Diagnosis of male. The genus can be distinguished from males of other sphaeropthalmine genera by the dilated and deeply emarginated condition of the mandibles (Fig. 1), the posterior position of the mesosternal processes (Figs. 4, 5), the presence of lateral carinae on the hypopygidium (Fig. 3) and the flattened condition of the hypopygidium.

Description of male. Head. Mesosoma slightly wider than head. Ocelli large; ocellocular distance ~1X width of lateral ocellus. Clypeus forming a trapezoidal, truncated anterior lobe (Fig. 2), depressed below dorsal mandibular rim; clypeal base not tuberculate (Fig. 2). Malar space short, ~0.5X maximum lateral ocellus width. Gena short, width approximately equal to ~0.5X maximum lateral ocellus width. Mandible tridentate apically, vertical throughout, ventral margin with deep excision, subtended by large sub­basal tooth; apical portion dilated beyond excision (Fig. 1). Antennal scrobes ecarinate above, with tubercle (Fig. 2). First flagellomere ~2X length of pedicel; second flagellomere ~1X length of first flagellomere. Maxillary palpus 6­segmented, labial palpus 4­segmented (Fig. 4).

Mesosoma . Mesoscutum with notali complete. Tegula glabrous. Mesosternum armed with pair of small, lamellate tooth­like processes, originating near midline immediately anterior to mesocoxae, appearing to slightly cup anterior margin of mesocoxae (Figs. 4, 5); basal width of process only slightly wider than width of apex (Fig.5). Tibial spurs 1­2­2; tibiae slender, not flattened. Wing with length of marginal cell approximately equal to length of stigma; subtruncate apically.

Metasoma. First segment petiolate, slender, nodose, moderately constricted dorsally and laterally at apex, distal width much less than that of base of segment 2 (Fig. 4). Segment 2 with tergal felt lines, lacking sternal felt lines (Fig. 4). Apical margins of segments 1 and 2 with slight fringe of sparse plumose pubescence. Pygidium short, subtruncate at apex. Hypopygium transverse, broader than long, depressed, laterally defined by longitudinal carinae (Fig. 3). Paramere slightly arcuate (Fig. 8), stout at base, weakly dorsoventrally flattened, tapering to apex, devoid of long setose pubescence (Fig. 6, 8). Cuspis elongate, about equal to 0.5X free length of paramere, slightly dilated and flattened, weakly concave on ventral surface, ventral surface with dense simple pubescence distally (Fig. 6, 8). Aedeagus bidentate (Fig. 7).

Female. Unknown.

Etymology. Named after R. M. Schuster, the scholar who made nocturnal mutillid taxonomy what it is today, plus the commonly used sphaeropthalmine suffix photopsis. Gender feminine.

Distribution. USA, Southern California, known only from holotype.