Mutilla

Abstract: Four species of the genus Zavatilla Tsuneki, 1993 are reviewed. An updated diagnosis of the genus is given and two new sex associations are proposed. Two new species, Z. xuzaifui Zhou, Lelej et Williams, sp. nov. (China: Guangdong, Yunnan, Hainan; Vietnam) and Z. nepalensis Zhou et Lelej, sp. nov. (Nepal) are described. Mutilla logei Zavattari, 1913 is proposed as junior synonym of Z. gutrunae (Zavattari, 1913). The status of Z. gutrunae flavotegulata (Chen, 1957) is updated to specific level. A key to the known species of Zavatilla is given for males and females.

Abstract: Four species of velvet ants (Mutillidae) were reared from nests of solitary bees and wasps collected using trap nests in southwest Australia and identified using morphological and DNA barcoding approaches. All four species, Aglaotilla micra sp. nov., A. lathronymphos sp. nov., A. chalcea sp. nov. and A. schadophaga sp. nov., are described as new, the last three from both sexes. A. micra, A. lathronymphos and A. chalcea are parasitoids of wasps in the genera Pison and Aulacophilinus (Crabronidae), with A. chalcea also recorded from Paralastor (Vespidae). Aglaotilla schadophaga is a parasitoid of bees in the genus Megachile (Megachilidae). The biologies and known hosts of Australian Mutillidae are reviewed. Photographs are also provided of type material for Ephutomorpha aeneidorsis Turner, 1914 (=Aglaotilla discolor Brothers, 2018), Mutilla metallica Smith, 1855 and Ephutomorpha subelegans Rayment, 1933. The lectotype of E. subelegans is formally designated.

Abstract: A review of bee species used as hosts of mutillid wasps in the Neotropical region is presented. Three new confirmed host records are provided for the mutillid species Hoplomutilla biplagiata Mickel, 1939, Pappognatha limes Mickel, 1939, and Tallium aracati Casal, 1962. Two potential host records are provided for Euspinolia rufula Mickel, 1938 and Lophomutilla inca Fritz and Pagliano, 1993. Additionally, Mutilla hoplitiformis Strand, 1909, is transferred to the genus Darditilla. Correlations between host nesting habits and female mutillid morphology are discussed. Lastly, all known confirmed and potential host records in the Neotropical region are compiled.

Abstract: The diversity of velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) on the Algodones Sand Dunes of southern California is investigated. Forty species are found to inhabit areas on and around the dunes. Sphaeropthalma django is described as a new species. Most of the species are known from males only. In an attempt to associate the sexes of the species, two internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) are sequenced for 11 female morphospecies of nocturnal Mutillidae found on the Algodones Sand Dunes. Their ITS sequences are compared to species known only from males that were also found on these same dunes. Sequences are compared for multiple individuals to assess genetic diversity. As has been found with other mutillids, intersexual sequence differences are much smaller than the interspecific differences. This work results in the matching of 11 females with their conspecific males using molecular data, including: Odontophotopsis arcuata, O. obscura, new comb., O. parva, O. villosa, Sphaeropthalma arota, S. blakeii, S. django, sp. nov., S. difficilis, S. ecarinata, S. militaris, and S. triangularis. Fresh females of O. inconspicua were unavailable, but an association of the female is made using morphological and distributional data. An Odontophotopsis female of unknown identity also is described, but not named. Sphaeropthalma helicaon (Fox), Photopsis lingulatus Viereck, Sphaeropthalma (Photopsis) carinata Schuster, Sphaeropthalma (Photopsis) helicaon coahuilae Schuster, Sphaeropthalma (Photopsis) helicaon diegueno Schuster are junior synonyms of Sphaeropthalma arota (Cresson). Mutilla hebes Melander is a junior synonym of Photomorphus clandestina (Viereck). Mutilla bellerophon Melander (nec Fox) and Mutilla (Photomorphus?) crepuscula Viereck are junior synonyms of Photomorphus bicolor (Blake). Odontophotopsis grata Schuster (nec Melander) is a junior synonym of O. acmaea Viereck. Neotypes are designated for O. obscura Schuster and O. quadrispinosa Schuster. Only Dasymutilla imperialis, D. nocturna and Sphaeropthalma django, sp. nov., were found to be restricted to the Algodones Sand Dunes. Odontophotopsis arcuata, O. parva, O. villosa and S. ecarinata are not restricted to the Algodones Sand Dunes, but can be found in much greater abundance on the dunes than elsewhere. Keys are provided for both sexes.