Laminatilla bicornigera (Schuster)

Pitts, James P., 2007, Revision of Odontophotopsis Viereck (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae), Part 1, with a description of a new Genus Laminatilla, Zootaxa 1619, pp. 1-43 : 37

Laminatilla bicornigera (Schuster)

( Figs. 69–73 )

Odontophotopsis (Odontophotopsis) bicornigera Schuster, 1958 . Ent. Amer. (n. s.) 37: 56. male. Holotype: Mexico, Baja California Sur, San José del Cabo, 9.Jul.1958, Michelbacher & Ross (UMSP).

Diagnosis. This species can be separated from other species in this genus by the presence of a dentate antennal tubercle, by the unique mandible that has the dorsal carina projecting anteriorly while the dorsal tooth projects posteriorly and overlies the anterior margin of the clypeus ( Figs. 69–71 ), by the strongly triangular shape of the posterior margin of the head, and by the transverse carina that connects the mesosternal processes. The genitalia are as in Figs. 72 and 73 .

Distribution. Based on the few specimens available for study, this species appears to be limited to Baja California Sur, Mexico.

Material examined. Mexico, Baja California Sur, Cabo San Lucas, 8 mi NE, 1 paratype male ( UMSP); Las Barracas, ca. 30 km E Santiago, 4 males, 7–12.May.1982, P. DeBach ( CISC); La Paz, 7 mi SW, 4 males, 8.Aug.1966, Chemsak and Powell ( CISC); Santiago, 6 mi SW, 1 male, 31.Aug.1959, K.W. Radford and F.G. Werner ( UAIC); Triunfo, 1 paratype male ( UMSP).

Remarks. The mandible of L. bicornigera is superficially similar to Acanthophotopsis falciformis Schuster in having a tooth that protrudes posteriorly from the mandible and overlies the clypeus when the mandible is relaxed. The actual structure that is involved in the protrusion, however, differs between the species. For L. bicornigera , the third mandibular tooth overlies the clypeus being out of alignment with the other mandibular teeth. Acanthophotopsis falciformis has a forth tooth located behind the third tooth that causes the protrusion.

Figures

FIGURES 69 – 79. Laminatilla bicornigera: Fig. 69. mandible, lateral view; Fig. 70. mandible, frontal view; Fig. 71. mandible, dorsal view; Fig. 72. genitalia, dorsal view; Fig. 73. cuspis, lateral view, dorsum to left. Laminatilla lamellifera: Fig. 74. mandible; Fig. 75. genitalia, dorsal view; Fig. 76. cuspis, lateral view, dorsum to left. Laminatilla mixtoensis: Fig. 77. mandible; Fig. 78. genitalia, dorsal view; Fig. 79. cuspis, lateral view, dorsum to left.