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Issue: Vol. 2559 No. 1: 5 Aug. 2010
Type: Articles
Published: 2010-08-05
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.2559.1.5
Page range: 58–68
Abstract views: 44
PDF downloaded: 2

True females of the subgenus Photomorphina Schuster (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae)

Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA
Department of Biology, Utah State University, 5305 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322-5305, USA
Department of Biology, Utah State University, 5305 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322-5305, USA
Hymenoptera Xenomorphus nocturnal velvet ant

Abstract

Using morphological and distributional evidence, the females of Photomorphus (Photomorphina) archboldi Manley & Deyrup, P. (Photomorphina) auriventris Schuster, and P. (Photomorphina) spinci (Bradley) are newly described. Discovery of these females facilitated a necessary study on the structural differences between the two Photomorphus subgenera, Photomorphus Viereck and Photomorphina Schuster, and revealed diagnostic setal patterns and sculpturing of the mesosoma and metasoma for the two subgenera. Furthermore, examination of type material revealed past misidentifications that led to incorrect taxonomic status for these insects, requiring significant changes to taxonomy. Photomorphus myrmicoides (Cockerell) is transferred from the subgenus Photomorphina to subgenus Photomorphus. Photomorphus subtenuis (Viereck), revised status, and Photomorphus impar (Melander), revised status, are resurrected from incorrect synonymy under P. myrmicoides. Photomorphus impar is considered the senior synonym of Mutilla parvula Blake, P. johnsoni Viereck, and P. johnsoni var. argentipilis Schuster, new synonyms.

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