Dasymutilla blattoserica (Kohl)

MANLEY, DONALD G. & PITTS, JAMES P., 2007, Tropical and Subtropical Velvet Ants of the Genus Dasymutilla Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) with Descriptions of 45 New Species, Zootaxa 1487 (1), pp. 1-128 : 32

Dasymutilla blattoserica (Kohl)

Mutilla blattoserica Kohl, 1882 . Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. 32:487. Holotype female, Lima (Ida Pfeiffer) [NHMV?]. Male description: Suarez (1970:175).

Mutilla holoserica André, 1898 . Ann. Ent. Soc. Fr. 67:39. Holotype female, Chile (Fontaine) [MNHN] (examined). Synonymy: Mickel (1964:164).

Diagnosis of Female ( Plate C2E ). This species is distinguished by the mesosoma being as broad as long, presence of a scutellar scale, and coloration. The integument of the female is entirely black, lacking any maculae. Tergum II is clothed almost entirely with shining orange setae. Although there are some erect white setae, there is no pattern of black setae. Also, the head is distinctly narrower than the mesosoma, the antennal scrobe is ecarinate, and sternum II is merely punctate, not at all scabrous.

Diagnosis of Male ( Plate C2F ). The male has a pit on sternum II that is densely filled with setae that is far anterior in position, and the pygidium lacks an apical fringe of setae. The integument of the male is entirely black, and the dorsum of the entire body is clothed with conspicuous pale yellow and gold setae. The head is distinctly narrower than the mesosoma, and the antennal scrobe is not carinate.

Host Identity. Melitoma sp. ( Hymenoptera : Apidae ).

Distribution. Peru; Chile.

Material Examined. Peru, Lima Dept., 10 km W Sayan , Melitoma nest site, 12 May 1996 (31♀, 69♂), 13 May 1996 (19♀, 7♂), J. G. Rozen, A. Ugarte, & M. Laime [ AMNH, EMUS] .

Remarks. This species had been poorly represented in collections, but is easily identified in both sexes. The location of the holotype is in question and, therefore, has not been examined. All other known specimens, however, have been examined. Several of the specimens listed in the material examined were actually reared from cocoons of Melitoma , giving unequivocal proof of the host-parasite relationship, while others were merely collected at the Melitoma nesting site.

Figures

PLATE 2. Male genitalia of Dasymutilla. A. D. impressa. B. D. ionothorax. C. D. loreto. D. D. mazatlanorum. E. D. mirabilis. F. D. mirapenis. G. D. modgudi. H. D. naranjo.