Invreiella cephalargia ( Mickel, 1924 ) Waldren & Williams & Cambra & Pitts, 2020

Waldren, George C., Williams, Kevin A., Cambra, Roberto A. & Pitts, James P., 2020, Systematic revision of the North American velvet ant genus Invreiella Suárez (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) with description of eleven new species, Zootaxa 4894 (2), pp. 151-205 : 182-184

7. Invreiella cephalargia ( Mickel, 1924) , comb. nov.

( Figs 15 , 55 , 71 , 87 , 102 , 118 , 132 ; Map 5)

Pseudomethoca cephalargia Mickel, 1924: 17 [holotype ♀ (AMNH – lost)]. Mickel 1935: 384; Krombein 1951: 759, 1979: 1302.

Diagnosis (female). This species is distinguished from the other member of the I. cephalargia species-group, I. manleyi , sp. nov., by the following combination of characters: the vertex is densely covered with decumbent golden-yellow setae (figs 15, 132), the dorsum of T2 with a central patch, or two median patches, of golden setae (sometimes sparse) (figs 15, 132), the integument of the antennae, pleura, and legs is orange-red (figs 15, 87, 118, 132), and the striations of the meso- and metapleura and lateral face of propodeum are less pronounced (fig. 118).

Redescription (female). Body length 7.49–11.56 mm.

Head: Head 0.93–1.15 × as wide as mesosoma. Vertex and frons contiguously punctate. Antennal scrobe carina arcuate, with inner tip of carina well-separated from antennal rim. Frons not transversely recessed and concave below antennal scrobe carina, antennal rim consequently not recessed and is visible when head viewed laterally. Antennal rim apically glabrous, rounded. F1 1.56–2.79 × as long as F2. Clypeus concave, with transverse arcuate carina complete, with small lateral tubercle ventrad to carina. Mandible acuminate. Distance from posterior margin of eye to posterolateral corner of head 0.93–1.56 × maximum diameter of eye. Genal process triangular, posterior genal carina nearly straight. Gena densely, contiguously punctate laterally. Postgena transversely rugose-striate.

Mesosoma: Mesosoma 1.19–1.3 × as wide as long. Dorsum and posterior face of mesosoma densely, contiguously punctate, surfaces coarse. Anterodorsolateral margin of pronotum outcurved. Pronotal carina weakly present, with cluster of dense, contiguous punctures in its place, edges of punctures tuberculate and crenulate, simulating carina. Tubercle anterior of propodeal spiracle obscure. Width of propodeum scarcely greater than distance between propodeal spiracles in dorsal view. Lateral face of pronotum rugose-striate, with moderate punctures amid striae, lateral face posteriorly carinate along pronotal-mesopleural suture. Mesopleuron finely striate-rugose anteriorly, microgranulate and with micropunctures, posteriorly striate-rugose. Mesopleuron with vertical column of punctures tuberculate at edges, forming crenulate anterior and posterior carinae. Mesopleuron posteriorly carinate along ventral half of mesopleural-metapleural suture, dorsal portion of suture absent. Metapleuron with ventral half striate-rugose, with few moderate punctures amid striae, dorsal half microgranulate and nearly glabrous. Metapleural-propodeal suture with short striae perpendicularly overlapping suture mostly throughout its length. Lateral face of propodeum with ventral two-thirds striate-rugose, with few moderate punctures amid striae, dorsal one-third microgranulate to striate-rugose, with few moderate punctures. Coxae coarsely sculptured, with small to large punctures.

Metasoma: Dorsum of T1–5 densely, contiguously punctate. Visible portion of pygidial plate not obscured by setal hood rugose-granulate. S2 densely punctate, punctures moderate to large, interpunctal space smooth, basolateral concave area sparsely punctate, nearly glabrous between punctures. S3–6 densely punctate, coarsely microgranulate between punctures. Hypopygium with slightly arcuate transverse row of setae near apical margin, lateral setae longer than median setae.

Integument coloration: Orange-red, except apical 1/2–1/3 of mandible and T6, dark brown-red.

Pubescence: Frons ventrally with whitish setae, medially with few fuscous setae. Frons dorsally and vertex with dense, decumbent golden-yellow setae. Posterolateral corner of head with sparse patch of black setae. Mandible with dorsal and ventral longitudinal row of pale orange setae. Remainder of head with whitish setae. Dorsum of mesosoma mostly covered with decumbent orange setae, dorsolateral edges with sparse raised fuscous and whitish setae. Pronotum with dorsal transverse band of black setae, except area between epaulet and pronotal spiracle with whitish setae. Additional patch of whitish setae surrounding or just posterior to propodeal spiracle and another patch sometimes present on scutum. Remainder of mesosoma including legs with whitish setae (except tarsi with dense orange bristles). Anterior face of T1 with whitish setae. T1 apically fringed with moderately wide band of black setae medially, laterally fringed with whitish setae. T2 with median transverse patch of whitish setae, or with two median round patches of whitish setae, remainder of dorsum of T2 covered with orange to black setae surrounding median whitish setae. Felt line of T2 and surrounding lateral area with whitish setae. T2 apically fringed with narrow patch of black setae medially, laterally fringed with whitish setae. T3 covered and fringed with whitish setae. T4 similar to T3 except with moderately wide patch of black setae medially. T5 mostly covered and fringed with black setae medially, laterally fringed with whitish setae. T6 with light orange setae surrounding pygidial plate, partially obscuring basal half. Remainder of metasoma with whitish setae.

MALE. Unknown.

Etymology: The specific epithet is in reference to the large head of this species.

Distribution: Mexico (Chihuahua); USA (Arizona).

Biogeography: Nearctic region (Chihuahuan Desert province); Mexican transition zone (Sierra Madre Occidental province).

Host(s): Unknown.

Remarks: The holotype is lost and is not present at AMNH; fortunately, this species is among the most easily recognized in the genus. I. cephalargia is the first known Invreiella to occur in the United States. In his 1924 revision of the Pseudomethoca (sensu lato) fauna of the United States and Canada, C. Mickel noted the unusual morphology of I. cephalargia : “This species is not closely related to any other of the forms treated herein. It will likely be found represented in the Mexican fauna. It may be easily recognized by the structure of the head at the sides beneath.” ( Mickel 1924: 18)

Material examined ( I. cephalargia , 15♀).

Holotype (lost): ♀ ( AMNH). [( USA: Arizona: Pima Co. : Santa Catalina Mountains, Sabino Basin , [32.312°N 110.798°W], 08–20.Jul.1916 (1♀ – AMNH))]

Additional specimens (non-types, examined or referenced*): MEXICO: Chihuahua: Divisadero, 5 km upstream along Rio Urique , 26.929°N 107.938°W, 301 m, 18.Mar.1997, B. Pickering, MSB 13565 (1♀ – MSBA *) ; El Tejabán, 29 mi. SW along Urique River [in Copper Canyon], [27.108°N 107.867°W], 23–27.May.1991, R.E. Stecker (1♀ –0000028– CASC) ; Témoris , 2 mi. N, [27.311°N 108.285°W], 22.Aug.1968, T.A. Sears, R.C. Gardner, & C.S. Glaser (1♀ –0000022– DGMC) ; Témoris , 15 mi. N, [27.499°N 108.292°W], 22.Aug.1968, T.A. Sears, R.C. Gardner, & C.S. Glaser (1♀ –0000021– DGMC) . USA: Arizona: Cochise Co. : Leslie Canyon NWR, [31.579°N 109.506°W], 23.Apr.2001, W.R. Radke (1♀ –0000025– DGMC) , 10.Aug.2001, W.R. Radke (1♀ –0000026– DGMC) , 24.Sep.2008, W.R. Radke (1♀ –0000027– DGMC) ; Sierra Vista , [31.545°N 110.277°W], 01.Aug.1961, R.F. Ster-nitzky (1♀ –0000024– DGMC) , 21.Aug.2001, R.F. Sternitzky (1♀ –0000023– DGMC) . Pima Co. : Santa Rita Experimental Station , 31.761°N 110.844°W, 1340 m, 01.Jul.1970, M.A. Kolner & S.L. Szerlip, ASUHIC 0059505 (1♀ – ASUHIC *) ; Santa Rita Mountains (north end), Hwy 83, 2.8 mi. W on FS 62, 31.778611°N 110.734444°W, 08.Oct–03.Dec.2011, black pitfall, W.B. Warner (1♀ –0000030– EMUS) ; Tucson, Rincon Mountains , [32.153°N 110.484°W], 16.Sep.1937, E.D. Ball (1♀ –0000019– EMUS) . Santa Cruz Co.: Patagonia , [31.539°N 110.756°W] (1♀ –0000029– CASC) ; Peña Blanca Canyon , [31.416°N 111.078°W], 07–11.Sep.1978, W.P. Nye (1♀ –0000020– EMUS) .

Figures

FIGURES 9–23. Female habitus, dorsal view. Scale bars = 2 mm.

FIGURES 55–63. Female head, left lateral view: 55–I. cephalargia (0000024), 56–I. tequila (0000053). Female mesopleuron, left lateral view: 57–I. suarezi (0000051), 58–I. tequila (0000053). Female mandible, anterior view: 59–I. tequila (0000053), 60–I. suarezi (0000051). Female mesosoma, left lateral view: 61–I. manleyi (0000037), 62–I. erythrocephala (0000034). Female procoxae, anterior view: 63–I. satrapa (0000045).

FIGURES 64–79. Invreiella australis (0000001): 64–female habitus, lateral view. Female head, left lateral view: 65–I. australis (0000001), 66–I. bimaculata (0000002), 67–I. mesomexicana (0000035), 68–I. acuminata (0000056), 69–I. cardinalis (0000018), 70–I. cuernavaca (0000032), 71–I. cephalargia (0000024), 72–I. manleyi (0000037), 73–I. breviclypeata (0000003), 74–I. chihuahuensis (0000031), 75–I. satrapa (0000049), 76–I. erythrocephala (0000034), 77–I. suarezi (0000051), 78–I. tequila (0000053), 79–Pseudomethoca frigida.

FIGURES 80–94. Invreiella australis (0000001): 80–female head, anterior view. Femaleclypeus:81–I.australis (0000001), 82– I. bimaculata (0000002), 83–I. mesomexicana (0000035), 84–I. acuminata (0000056), 85–I. cardinalis (0000018), 86–I. cuernavaca (0000032), 87–I. cephalargia (0000024), 88–I. manleyi (0000037), 89–I. breviclypeata (0000003), 90–I. chihuahuensis (0000031), 91–I. satrapa (0000049), 92–I. erythrocephala (0000034), 93–I. suarezi (0000051), 94–I. tequila (0000053).

FIGURES 95–110. Invreiella australis (0000001): 95–female habitus, dorsal view. Female mesosoma, left dorsal view: 96–I. australis (0000001), 97–I. bimaculata (0000002), 98–I. mesomexicana (0000035), 99–I. acuminata (0000056), 100–I. cardinalis (0000018), 101–I. cuernavaca (0000032), 102–I. cephalargia (0000024), 103–I. manleyi (0000037), 104–I. breviclypeata (000003), 105–I. chihuahuensis (0000031), 106–I. satrapa (0000049), 107–I. erythrocephala (0000034), 108–I. suarezi (0000051), 109–I. tequila (0000053), 110–Pseudomethoca frigida.

FIGURES 111–125. Invreiella australis (0000001): 111–female habitus, lateral view. Female mesosoma, left lateral view: 112–I. australis (0000001), 113–I. bimaculata (0000002), 114–I. mesomexicana (0000035), 115–I. acuminata (0000056), 116–I. cardinalis (0000018), 117–I. cuernavaca (0000032), 118–I. cephalargia (0000024), 119–I. manleyi (0000037), 120–I. breviclypeata (0000003), 121–I. chihuahuensis (0000031), 122–I. satrapa (0000049), 123–I. erythrocephala (0000034), 124–I. suarezi (0000051), 125–I. tequila (0000053).

FIGURES 132–133. Female habitus, dorsal view: Invreiella cephalargia species-group. Scale bars = 2 mm. MAP 5. Geographic distribution of the Invreiella cephalargia species-group.