ARS | Publication request: A Review of the Sphaeropthalma Uro Species-Group (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae), with Taxonomic Changes

Submitted to: Journal Of Kansas Entomological Society
Publication Acceptance Date: February 16, 2004
Publication Date: August 1, 2004
Citation: Pitts, J.P., Parker, F.D., Pitts Singer, T. 2004. A Review Of The Sphaeropthalma Uro Species-Group (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae), With Taxonomic Changes. Journal Of Kansas Entomological SOCIETY.77(3):222-234.

Interpretive Summary: We found that the genera Micromutilla, Photopsioides, Photopsis, Physetapsis, and Xenophotopsis all should be called Sphaeropthalma. For ease of identification, we placed all of the species in these genera into species-groups. We described the unknown females, made an identification key for both sexes and provided illustrations for the Sphaeropthalma uro species-group.

Technical Abstract: The subgenera Micromutilla Ashmead, 1899, Photopsioides Schuster, 1958, Photopsis Blake, 1886, Physetapsis Schuster, 1958, and Xenophotopsis Schuster, 1958 are junior synonyms of Sphaeropthalma Blake 1871. The single species previously placed in the subgenus Xenophotopsis is placed into the Sphaeropthalma orestes species-group. Species previously placed in the subgenus Physetapsis are placed into the Sphaeropthalma clara species-group. Species previously placed in the subgenera Sphaeropthalma and Photopsioides are placed into the Sphaeropthalma pensylvanica species-group and Sphaeropthalma uro species-group, respectively. A review of the males of Sphaeropthalma uro species-group is given. The females of Sphaeropthalma abdominalis (Blake) and S. amphion (Fox) are described. Forty-seven new host records and current distributional data are presented for the species of the Sphaeropthalma uro species-group. A key and illustrations are given for the males and known females of the Sphaeropthalma uro species-group.