Dasymutilla gloriosa (Saussure)

Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A. & Boehme, Nicole F., 2009, Velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of the Algodones sand dunes of California, USA, Zootaxa 2131, pp. 1-53 : 17-18

Dasymutilla gloriosa (Saussure)

Mutilla gloriosa Saussure, 1868 , (1867). Soc. Ent. France, Ann. (4) 7: 359. Female. Holotype data: Baja California, Saunders (MNHN).

Mutilla tecta Cresson, 1875 . Amer. Ent. Soc., Trans. 5: 119. Female. Holotype data: California, H. Edwards (ANSP). Dasymutilla reperticia Mickel, 1928 . U.S. Natl. Mus., Bul. 143: 287. Male. Holotype data: Arizona, Empire Mountains, 3 Jul 1924, A.A. Nichol (UMSP).

Diagnosis of male. The male of this species ( Fig. 50 ) possesses black integument and the setae of the dorsum concolorous yellow to red, the posterior margin of head is extended medially, the anterior margin of pronotum is emarginate medially, and S2 has an oval pit filled with setae.

Diagnosis of female. The female of this species ( Fig. 49 ) possesses red integument and white setae throughout, the antennal scrobes are carinate, and a scutellar scale is present.

Material examined. California, Imperial Co. : Algodones Dunes, Niland-Glamis Rd., 7.4 km NW, 1 male, 3–30.May.2008, S. Heydon and K. Lorenzen ( UCDC). Glamis, 7.3 mi W, 1 female, 29–30.May.1988, C.L. Bellamy ( UCDC).

Distribution. Widespread throughout the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, from California to Texas south to Nayarit, Mexico.

Remarks. The male of D. gloriosa is very similar morphologically to D. imperialis , only differing in coloration and size (see Figs. 50, 51 ). It is likely that D. imperialis is conspecific with D. gloriosa , but we hesitate to synonymize these species because of the larger size of D. imperialis and the propensity for endemism on the Algodones Sand Dunes.

Examination of males from other sites during this study shows variation in the presence of an apical fringe on the pygidium of D. gloriosa males. This will affect the ability to key this species using Mickel’s keys (1928, 1936). All characters discussed in the diagnosis should be examined when identifying the male of this species.

The holotypes of Mutilla gloriosa and Mutilla tecta have not been examined, but this species is well established in previous literature by Mickel (1928).

Figures

FIGURES 47 – 55. Habitus, lateral view. Dasymutilla atricuada, 47. female and 48. male; D. gloriosa, 49. female and 50. male; D. imperialis, 51. male; D. magnifica, 52. female and 53. male; and D. nocturna, 54. female and 55. male.