taxonID	type	description	language	source
504687FBC75FFFA0FF65F8C33B78FC8E.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis of male. The male of this species can be recognized by unique quadridentate mandibles (Fig. 1; also see Figs 6 & 12 of Tanner et al. 2009). The mandibles have three apical teeth, plus a fourth tooth that projects posteriorly over the clypeus (Fig. 1). Also, the males have the posterior head margin elongate posteriorly, large conical mesosternal processes, only a single spur on the tibia of the middle leg, a paramere of the genitalia that is squat, and a cuspis that is curled apically (Fig. 49).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC75FFFA0FF65F8C33B78FC8E.taxon	description	Female. Unknown, possibly it will be mistaken as a species of Sphaeropthalma near Sphaeropthalma blakeii.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC75FFFA0FF65F8C33B78FC8E.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. California, Riverside Co.: Deep Canyon, 5 males, 2. May. 1963, 2 males, 3. May. 1963, 3 males, 16. May. 1963, 1 male, 30. May. 1963, 2 males, 8. Oct. 1963, coll. M. E. Irwin and E. I. Schlinger, 12 males, 9. Oct. 1963, coll. M. E. Irwin and E. I. Schlinger (UCRC, EMUS); 2 males, 18. May. 1969, coll. M. E. Erwin; 2 males, 21 – 29. May. 1973 2 males, 27. May – 1. Jun. 1970, 2 males, 18. May. 1969, coll. M. E. Erwin; 1 male, 24. May. 1969, coll. M. E. Erwin and S. Frommer, 3 males, 13 – 18. Jun. 1969, 1 males, 15. Jun. 1969, 3 males, 18 – 19. Jun. 1969, 4 males, 20 – 24. Jun. 1969, 3 males, 2 – 3. Jul. 1969, 1 male, 30 – 31. Jul. 2007.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC75FFFA0FF65F8C33B78FC8E.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Nevada and southern Utah south into California, Arizona, and as far southwest as Zacatecas, Mexico.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC75FFFA0FF65F8C33B78FC8E.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This species is rarely collected and is not limited to Deep Canyon. This genus was recently revised by Tanner et al. (2009).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC75EFFA0FF65FCA93992F9F3.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis of male. The male of A. campylognatha has greatly dilated mandibles that are deeply excised ventrally (Fig. 2), lacks mesosternal processes, has a flattened hypopygidium that is carinate anterolaterally and has genitalia that are distinctive in having the paramere and cuspis dorsoventrally flattened and the cuspis straight (Figs 47, 48).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC75EFFA0FF65FCA93992F9F3.taxon	description	Female. Described in Pitts and Wilson (2009).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC75EFFA0FF65FCA93992F9F3.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. California, Riverside Co.: Deep Canyon, 1 male, 16. May. 1973, coll. J. Pinto, 1 male, 19 – 21. Jul. 1969.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC75EFFA0FF65FCA93992F9F3.taxon	distribution	Distribution. southern regions of the Mojave Desert of California and south into the Sonoran Desert of Baja California.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC75EFFA0FF65FCA93992F9F3.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Pitts and McHugh (2002) reviewed this genus. Recent morphological studies (Pitts & McHugh 2002; Pitts 2003; Wilson & Pitts 2008; Pitts & Wilson 2009) all concurred in suggesting that Acrophotopsis is closely related to Dilophotopsis based on morphology; this conclusion has been confirmed by Pitts et al. (2010). Along with many characters shared by the males (Pitts 2003; Pitts & McHugh 2002), the females of Acrophotopsis and Dilophotopsis are morphologically very similar, sharing several notable characters of the mandibles and pygidium. In addition, the females of these genera share many characteristics with females of the Sphaeropthalma orestes species-group (Pitts & Wilson 2009), a relationship also confirmed by Pitts et al. (2010).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC75EFFA6FF65F93B3AC9FECE.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis of male. The male of this species has greatly dilated mandibles that are deeply excised ventrally (e. g., Fig. 2), has mesosternal processes in the form of tubercles (Fig. 51) that are relatively wide and shagreened on their apex, has a flattened hypopygidium that is carinate anterolaterally and has distinctive genitalia with the paramere, and cuspis dorsoventrally flattened and the cuspis elbowed (Fig. 50).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC75EFFA6FF65F93B3AC9FECE.taxon	description	Female. Unknown.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC75EFFA6FF65F93B3AC9FECE.taxon	materials_examined	Materials examined. California, Riverside Co.: Deep Canyon, 3 males, 16. May. 63.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC75EFFA6FF65F93B3AC9FECE.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Restricted to the Mojave and western Sonoran Deserts of Arizona, California, and Nevada, and the deserts of Baja California, and Baja California Sur, Mexico.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC75EFFA6FF65F93B3AC9FECE.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This genus was reviewed by Wilson and Pitts (2008).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC758FFA6FF65FE693D43F906.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis of male. This species is recognized by having the following combination of characters: the mandible is excised ventrally forming an angle (Fig. 3), but does not taper towards the apex; the apex of the mandible is slightly dilated; the mesosternum has only one pair of large distinct spines that have a posterior face that is longitudinally sulcate and have an apex that is bifid; the metasternum is bidentate; and the pygidium is granulate, but not defined laterally by carinae. The genitalia of this species are similar to those of O. aufidia (see Fig. 9 of Pitts et al. 2009).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC758FFA6FF65FE693D43F906.taxon	description	Female. Unknown.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC758FFA6FF65FE693D43F906.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. California, Riverside Co.: Deep Canyon, 2 males, 13. Apr. 1968, coll. P. Rauch, 1 male, 16. May. 1963.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC758FFA6FF65FE693D43F906.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The Sonoran Desert of southern California and southwestern Arizona.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC758FFA6FF65FE693D43F906.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This species is rare, but is found throughout southern California and extends into southern Arizona and northern Mexico. Schuster (1958) created some problems with this species in combination with O. grata (Pitts et al. 2009). Schuster (1958) placed this species as a subspecies of O. adonis. Mickel (Krombein 1979) established this was not conspecific with O. adonis. This species clearly belongs in the O. parva species-group due to the weak ventral mandibular tooth, overall mandibular shape, the bidentate metasternum, the well developed sternal felt line, and the granulate pygidium. This species differs from all other species of the O. parva species-group due to the shape of the mesosternal processes, which are high, oblique, anteroposteriorly compressed, rectangular in outline, bidentate at the apex and separated by a ‘ U’ shaped sinus. Only three other species, O. bellona, O. parva and an undescribed species, have similar, but not identical mesosternal processes. Of these, only O. bellona has been collected at Deep Canyon thus far; it has a large, rounded, ventral tooth on the mandible (Fig. 6; see Fig. 17 in Mickel & Clausen 1983). Odontophotopsis parva has the apex of the mandibles parallel, the pygidium distinctly margined, while O. acmaea has the apex of the mandibles dilated, the pygidium not margined. Furthermore the mesosternal processes are rounded at the apex and are separated by a ‘ V’ shaped sinus. The undescribed species also has a margined pygidium, but the shape of the mandible, which could be described as dilated, is unique in having a dorsally directed lamella at the apex of the tridentate mandible that is similar in shape and size to normal tooth.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC758FFA5FF65F92B3DCFFC15.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis of male. This species can be recognized by the presence of mesosternal processes, a deeply emarginate, tridentate, mandible that is slightly oblique apically (Fig. 4), and a distinct tubercle located medial on the posterior margin of the clypeus, while usually lacking a sternal felt line. In many of the specimens from Deep Canyon a trace of a sternal felt line is present, but it is defined by little more than a small cluster of micropunctures.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC758FFA5FF65F92B3DCFFC15.taxon	description	Female. Unknown.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC758FFA5FF65F92B3DCFFC15.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. California, Riverside Co.: Deep Canyon, 15 males, 22 – 23. May. 2007, 45 males, 23 – 24. May. 2007, 1 male, 11. Jul. 1971, 1 male, 13 – 18. Jul. 1969, 1 male, 19 – 20. Jul. 1969, 1 male, 24. Aug. 1969, 1 male, 9 – 11. Sep. 1969, 8 males, 26. Sep – 6. Oct. 1969, 1 male, 6 – 8. Oct. 1969, 3 male, 9. Oct. 1963, 1 male, 11. Nov. 1963.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC758FFA5FF65F92B3DCFFC15.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The western Sonoran Desert of California and Baja California, Mexico and the Mojave Desert.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC758FFA5FF65F92B3DCFFC15.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This species can be sometimes confused with O. serca, from which it only can be separated by the presence of the clypeal tubercle. These two species are genetically distinct, however (e. g., Pitts et al. 2010). This species often has a trace of sternal felt line made up of short, dense, plumose setae and occasionally associated micropunctures. Schuster (1958) validated this species in a key, but did not designate a holotype or type locality (Ferguson 1967). As such, we are designating a Neotype for this species. Schuster (1958) placed this species in the O. serca species-group due to the deeply emarginate ventral margin of the mandible and the absence of sternal felt lines. This species differs from O. serca in having a tuberculate clypeus, which is lacking in O. serca, and mandibles that are oblique apically. Also, the apices of the mandibles are vertical in O. serca. Both of these characters should be used together, because the tuberculate aspect of the clypeus is sometimes difficult to see. Pitts et al. (2010) established that O. armata and O. serca are not closely related. A species-group housing O. armata should be delineated, but this is best left for a future revision of Odontophotopsis.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC75BFFA5FF65FC063D64FA6D.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis of male. This species is recognized by the following combination of characters: the mandible is excised ventrally forming an angle and tapering towards the vertical apex (Fig. 5; see Fig. 43 in Pitts et al. 2009), the mesosternum only has one pair of distinct spines, the metasternum is bidentate, and the pygidium is granulate, but is not defined laterally by carinae. The genitalia are illustrated by Pitts et al. (2009) in Fig. 9.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC75BFFA5FF65FC063D64FA6D.taxon	description	Female. Unknown.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC75BFFA5FF65FC063D64FA6D.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. California, Riverside Co.: Deep Canyon, 1 male, 7 – 14. Sep. 1973, coll. A. Tabet.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC75BFFA5FF65FC063D64FA6D.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Southern California northward into the Californian Central Valley.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC75BFFA5FF65FC063D64FA6D.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This species is abundant in the Central Valley of California, but is rare at Deep Canyon and in southern California. This species is a member of the O. parva species-group.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC75BFFA4FF65F9CE3DB8FE3E.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis of male. This species is differentiated by the tridentate mandible that is vertical at the apex, but the large basal tooth on the ventral margin of the mandible (Fig. 6; see Fig. 17 in Mickel & Clausen 1983) and by the pygidium defined laterally by carinae and with the surface distinctly granulate sculptured. This species has a characteristic apically bifid mesosternal process (see Fig. 106 of Mickel & Clausen 1983 and Fig. 25 of Pitts et al. 2009). The genitalia are illustrated by Mickel & Clausen (1983) in Fig. 4.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC75BFFA4FF65F9CE3DB8FE3E.taxon	description	Female. Unknown.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC75BFFA4FF65F9CE3DB8FE3E.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. California, Riverside Co.: Deep Canyon, 1 male, 15 – 18. May. 1970, 1 male, 19. May. 1973, coll. Wilson, 22 males, 22 – 23. May. 2007, 36 males, 23 – 24. May. 2007, 1 male, 24. May. 1969, 1 male, 24. Jun. 1970, coll. W. McKay, 2 males, 3 – 7. Jul. 1969, 1 male, 24 – 26. Jul. 1969.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC75BFFA4FF65F9CE3DB8FE3E.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Sonoran and Mojave deserts.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC75BFFA4FF65F9CE3DB8FE3E.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This species is rare in some regions, but can be found in larger numbers elsewhere, including Deep Canyon. This species is a member of the O. parva species-group and is the only member with large ventral teeth on the mandibles. This species could be confused with O. parva (see remarks for that species).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC75AFFA4FF65FDF93B00FA1D.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis of male. This species is recognized by having a tridentate mandible with an large dorsal tooth separated from the lower portion of the mandibular apex by a deep, wide, sinus, which makes the mandibular apices appear biramose (Fig. 7), and by the clypeus, which has a horseshoe-shaped tubercle posteromedially that overhangs the clypeus as a slight hood-like or nasutiform process (Fig. 7). Also, this species has a single mesosternal process on each side of the midline, and its cuspis is approximately half the free length of the paramere. The genitalia are illustrated by Pitts et al. (2009) in Fig. 10.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC75AFFA4FF65FDF93B00FA1D.taxon	description	Female. Unknown.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC75AFFA4FF65FDF93B00FA1D.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined (abbreviated). Arizona, Yuma Co., Maricopa Co., Mohave Co. California, Imperial Co., Riverside Co., San Bernardino Co. Nevada, Clark Co., Nye Co.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC75AFFA4FF65FDF93B00FA1D.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The western Sonoran Desert of California and southwestern Arizona northward into Mojave Desert including southern Nevada.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC75AFFA4FF65FDF93B00FA1D.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This species is rare, and has not been collected at Deep Canyon. It has been found in the Coachella Valley at Palm Springs, however, and included here because it is likely to be found here in the future. A more thorough discussion of this species can be found in Pitts (2007) and Pitts et al. (2009). Schuster (1958) placed this species along with O. setifera in the O. setifera species-group. This group presumably was based heavily on similarities in mandibular morphology. Pitts (2007) studied the genitalia of these two species and suggested that they may not be closely related. Pitts et al. (2010) has confirmed this; O. biramosa seems to be closely related to O. melicausa while O. setifera seems to be closely related to, but not a member of, the O. parva species-group.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC75AFFABFF65FA1E3DDAFF75.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis of male. This species has a head that is rounded posteriorly, deeply excised mandibles that are slightly dilated apically (Fig. 8), has a transverse clypeus that is slightly depressed below mandibular margins (Fig. 8), but lacks a tubercle situated posteromedially on the clypeus, has a pair of denticulate mesosternal processes, and has a shiny glabrous pygidium. Also, the second metasomal segment is normally castaneous compared to the lightly ferruginous remainder of the metasoma, head and mesosoma. The genitalia are illustrated by Pitts et al. (2009) in Fig. 11.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC75AFFABFF65FA1E3DDAFF75.taxon	description	Female. Unknown.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC75AFFABFF65FA1E3DDAFF75.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. California, Riverside Co., Deep Canyon, 2 males, 30 – 31. Jul. 2007.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC75AFFABFF65FA1E3DDAFF75.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Southwestern USA.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC75AFFABFF65FA1E3DDAFF75.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This species is widespread and common throughout much of the Southwest including Deep Canyon. This species is currently placed in the O. melicausa species-group, which is paraphyletic (Pitts et al. 2010). The paraphyly of this species-group will need to be dealt within a future revision.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC755FFAAFF65FEA63CE2FE1B.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis of male. This species can be recognized by the hind coxae with longitudinal hirsute carinae along their inner margin, and also having the mandible (Fig. 32) tridentate apically, weakly excised ventrally with the angle of excision obtusely angulate, the dorsal carina complete terminating at moderate tooth, and the apex vertical. Also, this species has a flattened to slightly concave mesosternum similar to other species of Odontophotopsis, but lacks the associated mesosternal processes and has dense plumose setal fringes on the metasoma (Fig. 33).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC755FFAAFF65FEA63CE2FE1B.taxon	description	Description of male. Coloration (Figs 32, 33). Body testaceous; flagellum and legs stramineous. Body clothed with dense, erect, brachyplumose, yellowish-white setae. T 1 with sparse plumose fringe at distal margin. T 2 and S 2 with dense fringe of whitish plumose setae. T 3 – 5 and S 3 – 5 each with sparser, but conspicuous fringes of whitish plumose setae. Head. Head rounded to slightly quadrate posteriorly. Mandible (Fig. 32) tridentate, weakly excised beneath, excision obtuse, ventral tooth angulate; dorsal carina complete terminating at moderate tooth; apex vertical; mandible dilated ventrally beyond excision; mandible slightly curving ventrally towards apex. Clypeus depressed below margin of mandible, median area concave; surface of clypeus polished, impunctate, with few erect setae; apex truncate, not bidentate. F 1 approximately 0.75 X length of F 2. Ocelli moderate in size, ocellocular distance approximately 1.25 X greatest width of lateral ocellus. Head weakly sculptured with punctures slightly wider than setal bases; interstitial regions glabrous. Mesosoma. Sides and dorsum of pronotum coarsely punctate, dorsum with moderate, shallow punctures, sides with somewhat larger, contiguous punctures. Mesonotum with moderate, contiguous, shallow punctures. Notaulus obsolete on anterior 0.3 of mesonotum. Scutellum coarsely, confluently punctate. Axillae not projecting posteriorly. Dorsum and posterior face of propodeum conspicuously, shallow reticulate, reticulations extending on to sides of propodeum, either remaining reticulate laterally or becoming coarse, punctate-reticulate. Anterolateral area of mesopleuron with moderate, shallow, separated punctures; remainder of mesopleuron with deeper, contiguous to confluent punctures; interstitial areas micropunctate. Metapleuron polished. Mesosternal processes absent, but mesosternum flattened, impunctate; area narrow anteriorly just at midline, widening to mid coxal width posteriorly. Mid coxa edentate. Hind coxa with distinct hirsute carina running longitudinally along inner margin. Metasternum bidentate. Mid femur not swollen. Marginal cell on costa short, 1.25 – 1.5 X length of stigma. Metasoma. First metasomal segment broad, nodose. Pygidium elongate and ovate, polished to weakly granulate along posterior margin, not strongly margined; S 2 with felt line tuft-like, 0.2 X length of tergal felt line. Hypopygium elongate and ovate. Genitalia (Fig. 64) with paramere acicular; cuspis elongate, approximately 0.5 X free length of paramere, and cylindrical in lateral view, with moderate basal pit. Female. Unknown. Length. 11 – 13 mm.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC755FFAAFF65FEA63CE2FE1B.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. Holotype: California, Riverside Co., Deep Canyon, 11. Nov. 1963, coll. E. Schlinger (UCRC). Paratypes: California, Riverside Co., Deep Canyon: 1 male, 25. Sep. 1969, 1 male, 26. Sep – 6. Oct. 1969, 1 male, 9. Oct. 1963, 2 males, 11. Nov. 1963 (UCRC, EMUS).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC755FFAAFF65FEA63CE2FE1B.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Currently known only from Deep Canyon, but will presumably be found throughout at least the western Sonoran Desert.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC755FFAAFF65FEA63CE2FE1B.taxon	etymology	Etymology. Named after Samuel Dashiell Hammett (1894 – 1961), who was a well-known American author of hardboiled detective novels and short stories, and creator of the famous protagonist, Sam Spade.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC755FFAAFF65FEA63CE2FE1B.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Although this species lacks mesosternal processes, it clearly belongs in Odontophotopsis due the characteristic genitalia and overall appearance of the species (i. e., density of plumose setae, weakly punctate head, etc.). Furthermore, the species has the mesosternum broadly, but weakly concave and impunctate similar to other Odontophotopsis having mesosternal processes, but unlike Sphaeropthalma, which have the mesosternum punctate and convex on either side of the midline. The species belongs in the O. parva species-group, based on mandibular morphology and the bidentate metasternum. This is the only species in this species-group that lacks a densely granulate pygidium. However, recent phylogenetic analyses of Odontophotopsis (Pitts et al. 2010) suggest this species-group is paraphyletic with respect to the O. tapajos species-group. Some of these species lack developed mesosternal processes and all lack a granulate pygidium.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC754FFAAFF65FE133B80FB3D.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis of male. This species is recognized by the following combination of characters: the mandible is excised ventrally forming a slight tooth that is dilated towards the vertical apex (Fig. 9), the mesosternum only has one pair of large distinct spines that are flattened to slightly concave on the posterior side, the metasternum is tridentate, and the pygidium is granulate and is defined laterally by carinae. The genitalia are illustrated by Pitts et al. (2009) in Fig. 12. Diagnosis of female. The female of this species is diagnosed in Pitts et al. (2009).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC754FFAAFF65FE133B80FB3D.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. California, Riverside Co., Deep Canyon: 10 males, 2. May. 1963, 5 males, 3. May. 1963, 10 males, 16. May. 1963, 1 male, 18. May. 1964, 1 male, 22 – 23. May. 2007, 3 males, 23 – 24. May. 2007, 1 male, 24. May. 1964, 2 males, 30. May. 1963.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC754FFAAFF65FE133B80FB3D.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The Sonoran desert of southern California and southwestern Arizona and the Mojave Desert being found as far north as southern Nevada.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC754FFAAFF65FE133B80FB3D.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Pitts et al. (2009) associated the female with this species based on morphological, distributional data, and specimens collected by W. E. Ferguson (1967). This species is widespread throughout the most of the Southwest and is normally abundant.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC754FFAAFF65FAFE3A80F81B.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis of male. This species can be easily recognized by the distinct mesosternal processes, which are made up of large glabrous longitudinal swellings located on either side of the midline. It also has typical O. parva species-group mandibles (Fig. 10).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC754FFAAFF65FAFE3A80F81B.taxon	description	Female. Unknown.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC754FFAAFF65FAFE3A80F81B.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. California, Riverside Co.: Deep Canyon: 5 males, 22 – 23. May. 2007, 20 males, 23 – 24. May. 2007, 1 male, 25. May. 1953, coll. R. Flock, 2 males, 6 – 13. Jun. 1969, 1 male, 13 – 15. Aug. 1969, 1 male, 26 – 28. Aug. 1969, 1 male, 26. Sep – 6. Oct. 1963; Palm Springs: 2 males, 27. May – 6. Jun. 1932, coll. T. Zachokke, 1 male, 10 – 12. Jul. 1969.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC754FFAAFF65FAFE3A80F81B.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Widespread throughout the Mojave and western Sonoran Deserts.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC754FFAAFF65FAFE3A80F81B.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Schuster (1958) placed this species into its own subgenus Periphotopsis due to its unique mesosternal processes. Pitts (2007) recognized that this species shares many characteristics with the O. parva species-group, and, as such, synonymized Periphotopsis with Odontophotopsis and moved O. mamata to the O. parva species-group. This placement is confirmed in Pitts et al. (2010).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC757FFA9FF65FF633DC6FC9D.taxon	description	(CUIC).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC757FFA9FF65FF633DC6FC9D.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis of male. This species has a head that is quadrate posteriorly, deeply excised mandibles that are distinctly dilated towards the vertical apex (Fig. 11; see Fig. 44 in Pitts et al. 2009 )), lacks a tubercle situated posteromedially on the clypeus, has a pair of denticulate mesosternal processes, and has a shiny glabrous pygidium. The genitalia are illustrated in Fig. 13 of Pitts et al. (2009). Diagnosis of female. A diagnosis of this female is provided in Pitts et al. (2007).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC757FFA9FF65FF633DC6FC9D.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. California, Riverside Co., Deep Canyon: 1 male, 1 – 4. Jun. 1970, 1 male, 28. Jul – 17. Aug. 1973, 1 male, 17 – 30. Jul. 1973, 1 male, 9. Oct. 1963, 2 males, 25. Oct. 1969.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC757FFA9FF65FF633DC6FC9D.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Central and Western USA into northern Mexico.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC757FFA9FF65FF633DC6FC9D.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This species ranges throughout the Great Plains and the western USA. It usually makes up a major portion of the fauna, but seems to be rare at Deep Canyon, although this could be a function of timing of collections given that in southern Nevada it is more prevalent later in the summer and fall.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC757FFA9FF65FC9E3A38F99E.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis of male. The male of this species can be recognized by having the marginal cell much shorter than the stigma as measured along the costal vein and two pair of mesosternal processes forming a square, with the anterior pair much more obvious than the posterior pair. Also, the mandibles are deeply emarginate along the ventral margin, but the mandible narrow s towards the vertical apex (Fig. 12). The genitalia are illustrated by Pitts et al. (2009) in Fig. 18.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC757FFA9FF65FC9E3A38F99E.taxon	description	Female. Unknown, but the likely female was described in Pitts et al. (2009).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC757FFA9FF65FC9E3A38F99E.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. California, Riverside Co.: 12 males, 2. May. 1963, 2 males, 16. May. 1963, 3 males, 30. May. 1963, 1 male, 25. Sep. 1969.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC757FFA9FF65FC9E3A38F99E.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Sonoran and Mojave deserts.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC757FFA9FF65FC9E3A38F99E.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This species is rare throughout its range and is not endemic to Deep Canyon. The mesosternal processes are weak and sometimes difficult to observe. This species was placed by Schuster (1958) into a monotypic species-group. It shares several morphological characteristics, but most especially similarities in the genitalia, with Sphaeropthalma difficilis, S. django, Photomorphus californicus and Odontophotopsis grata, which is a grouping suggested by Pitts et al. (2010).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC757FFA8FF65F9993C4CFE1B.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis of male. This species can be recognized by the lack of a clypeal tubercle, by having deeply excised mandibles with a vertical apex (Fig. 13), by having simple but prominent mesosternal processes, and by lacking a sternal felt line.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC757FFA8FF65F9993C4CFE1B.taxon	description	Female. Unknown.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC757FFA8FF65F9993C4CFE1B.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. California, Riverside Co., Deep Canyon: 1 male, 18. May. 1969, 30 males, 22 – 23. May. 2007, 1 male, 24. May. 1969, 1 male, 1 – 4. Jun. 1970, 1 male, 5 – 13. Jun. 1973, 1 male, 6 – 13. Jun. 1969, 3 males, 13 – 18. Jun. 1969, 1 male, 20 – 24. Jun. 1969, 3 males, 3 – 7. Jul. 1969, 1 male, 10 – 12, Jul. 1969, 1 male, 16 – 17. Aug. 1969, 3 males, 5 – 9. Sep. 1969, 1 male, 9 – 11. Sep. 1969, 51 males, 26. Sep – 6. Oct. 1969, 5 males, 6 – 8. Oct. 1969, 2 males, 16 – 17. Oct. 1969, 1 male, 17 – 20. Oct. 1969.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC757FFA8FF65F9993C4CFE1B.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The Sonoran Desert including Baja California, Mexico and the Mojave Desert.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC757FFA8FF65F9993C4CFE1B.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This species unlike O. armata never develops anything that resembles a felt line on the second metasomal sternite. This species, along with O. melicausa, has a tendency to develop a slight secondary mesosternal tubercle posterior to the primary one. Sometimes this can be unilateral (Ferguson 1967).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC756FFA8FF65FE133892FBCD.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis of male. This species can be recognized by its unique mandibular morphology (Fig. 14). The mandible has the apex vertical and has four teeth with the dorsal tooth is separated from the remaining teeth by a deep sinus similar to the mandibles of O. biramosa (see Fig. 27 of Pitts 2007). Other potentially useful characters are listed in Pitts (2007) and Pitts et al. (2009).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC756FFA8FF65FE133892FBCD.taxon	description	Female. Unknown.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC756FFA8FF65FE133892FBCD.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. California, Riverside Co., Deep Canyon: 1 male, 16. May. 1963.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC756FFA8FF65FE133892FBCD.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The western Sonoran and Mojave Deserts of Arizona, California, Nevada, and Baja California, Mexico.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC756FFA8FF65FE133892FBCD.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This species is found throughout the Mojave and western Sonoran Deserts. It was placed into the O. setifera species-group along with O. biramosa. See the remarks for O. biramosa for a discussion of the validity of the species-group.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC756FFAEFF65FB7B3B39F903.taxon	description	Photopsis abstrusa Baker, 1905. Invertebrata Pacifica 1: 113, male. Holotype data: California (CUIC). Photopsis nudata Baker, 1905. Invertebrata Pacifica 1: 114, male. Holotype data: California (CUIC).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC756FFAEFF65FB7B3B39F903.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis of male. The male of this species can be recognized by having the mandible with a somewhat tapered apex and with the dorsal carina becoming obsolete distally such that the distal portion of mandible is oblique (Fig. 15). Also, the marginal cell length is short being 0.5 – 0.9 X length of stigma, and this species lacks a sternal felt line. In addition to the mandibular morphology, the genitalia are diagnostic (Fig. 52). The cuspis is elongate (0.7 – 0.8 X free length of paramere) and is dilated towards its apex and has the ventral portion, especially at the apex and inner margin, clothed with long dense setae that have their apices plumose. Diagnosis of female. Pitts et al. (2004) associated and described the female of this species.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC756FFAEFF65FB7B3B39F903.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Found in the xeric regions of Arizona, California, Nevada, Baja California, Mexico, Nevada and Utah, including the Sonoran Desert, Great Basin Desert, Mojave Desert, Colorado Plateau, and San Joaquin Valley. Hosts. Ancistrocerus c. catskill (Saussure), A. simulator Cameron, Ancistocerus sp., Anthocopa copelandica (Cockerell), Ashmeadiella bigeloviae (Cockerell), A. gillettei Titus, A. meliloti (Cockerell), Ashmeadiella sp., Atoposmia hypostomalis Michener, Chrysis derivata du Buysson, Hoplitis bullifacies (Michener), Hoplitis f. fulgida (Cresson), H. g. grinnelli (Cockerell), H. sambuci Titus, Leptochilus chiricahua Parker, L. rufinodus (Cresson), Leptochilus sp., Osmia marginata Michener, Pisonopsis birkmanni Rohwer, Pisonopsis sp., Sapyga aculeata Cresson on Hoplitis sambuci, Sapyga elegans Cresson on Hoplitis fulgida, Sarcophagidae sp. (Diptera), Stelis sp. on Hoplitis bullifacies, Stelis spp., Trypargilum t. tridentatum (Packard), Trypargilum sp.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC756FFAEFF65FB7B3B39F903.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. California, Riverside Co., Deep Canyon: 4 males, 15. Mar. 2007, 1 male, 12. Apr. 1975, 1 male, 15. May. 1969, 1 male, 19. May. 1973, 7 males, 22 – 23. May. 2007, 5 males, 23 – 24. May. 2007, 1 male, 24 – 26. Jun. 1969, 2 males, 23. Jul. 1969, 1 male, 3 – 7. Aug. 1969, 1 male, 25 – 26. Aug. 1969, 1 male, 25. Sep. 1969, 20 males, 26. Sep – 6. Oct. 1969, 1 male, 6 – 8. Oct. 1969, 1 male, 15 – 16. Oct. 1969, 1 male, 18 – 20. Oct. 1969, 1 male, 11. Nov. 1969.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC756FFAEFF65FB7B3B39F903.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Pitts et al. (2004) placed this species in the S. uro species-group and discovered the female. This species is widespread throughout much of the western United States. It is similar to S. ignacio, especially the shape of the cuspis of the genitalia, and can be separated from this species by differences in the marginal cell and type of setae on the cuspis. The marginal cell of S. amphion is shorter than the stigma and the cuspis bears plumose tipped setae, while the marginal cell of S. ignacio is at least 1.75 X the length of the stigma and the cuspis bears setae with bifid tips.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC750FFADFF65F9143DCAFDC5.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis of male. The male of this species can be recognized by having mandibles that are weakly excised ventrally with a distinct angulate basal tooth (Figs 16, 54) and an apex that is tridentate and oblique (Figs 15, 54), but most importantly the dorsal carina of the mandible is angulate at the midpoint of the mandible coinciding with the ventral tooth (Figs 16, 54), the posterior margin of the head is quadrate, the mesosternum lacks processes, the second metasomal sternite has a distinct felt line, and the pygidium is granulate. The genitalia also help to diagnose this species (Fig. 53); the cuspis is a uniform diameter from the base to the apex. Diagnosis of female. Wilson & Pitts (2009) diagnosed the female based on associations made from similarities of the female to that of S. mendica and distributional data.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC750FFADFF65F9143DCAFDC5.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. California, Riverside Co.: Deep Canyon, 1 male, 13 – 18. Jul. 1973, 1 male, 18 – 19. Jul. 1969.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC750FFADFF65F9143DCAFDC5.taxon	distribution	Distribution. This species is found in the Mojave and Western Sonoran deserts.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC750FFADFF65F9143DCAFDC5.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Sphaeropthalma angulifera is morphologically similar to S. unicolor and S. mendica, but can be differentiated from these two species by mandibular morphology (Wilson & Pitts 2009). Although this species is found throughout the Mojave and western Sonoran Deserts, it is extremely rare.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC753FFADFF65FD563BF6F98D.taxon	description	Mutilla helicaon Fox, 1899. Amer. Ent. Soc., Trans. 25: 254. Male. Holotype data: Nevada, Type no. 4642 (UMSP). Photopsis lingulatus Viereck, 1903. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil., Proc. 54: 737. Male. Holotype data: La Jolla, San Diego Co., California (UMSP).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC753FFADFF65FD563BF6F98D.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis of male. This species is easily recognized by the weak excision and slight angulate tooth on the ventral margin of the mandible (Fig. 18), which is oblique apically, the clypeus carinate at base, but sometimes delicately so or gibbous (Fig. 18), the lack of mesosternal processes or a sternal felt line, and the ventral margin of the paramere with dense setae that are directed inward toward the cuspis (see Fig. 100 in Pitts et al. 2009). Diagnosis of female. Pitts et al. (2009) diagnosed the female of this species.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC753FFADFF65FD563BF6F98D.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. California, Riverside Co., Deep Canyon: 1 male, 23 – 24. May. 2007, 4 males, 3 – 7. Jul. 1969, 1 male, 21. Jul. 1970, coll. W. MacKay.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC753FFADFF65FD563BF6F98D.taxon	distribution	Distribution. From the Chihuahuan Desert of Texas west to the Sonoran Desert of California and north into the Mojave Desert.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC753FFADFF65FD563BF6F98D.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Preliminary molecular data, which will be published elsewhere, suggests that this species may actually be a group of four sibling species.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC753FFB2FF65F9AE3AE3F895.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis of male. This species is recognized by its small body size, the deeply excised mandible with the ventral tooth forming an oblique angle (Fig. 19; see also Fig. 45 in Pitts et al. 2009) while the dorsal carina is complete and the apex of the mandible is slightly oblique, the absence of mesosternal processes, the marginal cell which is shorter than the stigma, the first segment of the metasoma which is petiolate with the second segment, and the genitalia with a short cylindrical cuspis (see Pitts et al. 2009: Fig. 2).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC753FFB2FF65F9AE3AE3F895.taxon	description	Female. Unknown.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC753FFB2FF65F9AE3AE3F895.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. California, Riverside Co., Deep Canyon: 1 male, 2. May. 1963, 2 males, 23 – 25. May. 1970, 1 male, 24. May. 1969, 2 males, 21 – 29. May. 1973, 34 males, 22 – 23. May. 2007, 2 males, 27. May – 1. Jun. 1970, 2 males, 5 – 13. Jun. 1973, 4 males, 13 – 18. Jun. 1969, 1 male, 18 – 19. Jun. 1969, 1 male, 27 – 28. Jun. 1969, 1 male, 1 – 2. Jul. 19694 males, 2 – 3. Jul. 1969, 1 male, 10 – 12. Jul. 1969, 1 male, 13 – 14. Jul. 1969, 1 male, 13 – 20. Jul. 1973, 1 male, 19 – 21. Jul. 1969, 55 males, 30 – 31. Jul. 2007, 2 males, 4 – 5. Aug. 1969, 4 males, 5 – 7. Aug. 1969, 2 males, 7 – 9. Aug. 1969, 2 males, 9 – 11. Aug. 1969, 2 males, 17 – 30. Aug. 1973, 1 male, 25 – 26. Aug. 1969, 1 male, 28 – 30. Aug. 1969, 1 male, 30. Aug. – 7. Sep. 1973, 2 males, 26. Sep – 6. Oct. 1969, 2 males, 6. Oct. 1969, 1 male, 6 – 8. Oct. 1969.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC753FFB2FF65F9AE3AE3F895.taxon	distribution	Distribution. California and southwestern Arizona northward into southern Nevada.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC753FFB2FF65F9AE3AE3F895.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This species is not endemic to Deep Canyon, but is among the smallest mutillids that occur here. Ferguson (1967) gives a complete discussion of this species.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC74CFFB0FF65F8863A8EFD1E.taxon	description	Mutilla Gautschii Dalla Torre, 1897. Cat. Hym. 50. N. name erroneously proposed for Photopsis Blakeii Fox, thought to be preoccupied by Cameron, 1894. Mutilla ceyx Fox, 1899. Amer. Ent. Soc., Trans. 25: 262. Male. Lectotype data: Calmili Mines, Apr (ANSP).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC74CFFB0FF65F8863A8EFD1E.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis of male. This species can be recognized by the posterior margin of the head, by the weakly excised mandible that is dilated towards the vertical apex (Fig. 20), by the large stigma that is slightly longer than the marginal cell, by the denticles on the internal margin of the hind coxa, by the lack of mesosternal processes, by the quadrate pygidium, and most especially by the lobate dorsoventrally flattened condition of the cuspis (see Fig. 23 in Pitts et al. 2009), which has long setae along the internal margin that coalesce apically. Diagnosis of female. Pitts et al. (2009) associated and diagnosed the female.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC74CFFB0FF65F8863A8EFD1E.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. California, Riverside Co., Deep Canyon: 2 males, 1. May. 1973, 5 males, 22 – 23. May. 2007, 1 male, 1 – 4. Jun. 1970, 1 male, 6 – 13. Nov. 1969.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC74CFFB0FF65F8863A8EFD1E.taxon	distribution	Distribution. This species is widespread in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts in Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah and Mexico.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC74CFFB0FF65F8863A8EFD1E.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This species is widespread and not endemic to Deep Canyon. It is currently placed in the S. blakeii species-group along with S. arenicola, S. ceyxoides, and S. tuberculifera. Sphaeropthalma blakeii is sister to S. ceyxoides with which is shares similarities in genitalic morphology, but is not closely related to S. arenicola which makes this species-group paraphyletic (Pitts et al. 2010).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC74EFFB7FF65FD193C4BFE1B.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis of male. This species is can be diagnosed by the mandible having a moderate ventral tooth (Fig. 38) with an oblique apex, the marginal cell being 0.75 X the length of the stigma, the lobed hind coxa and the granulate pygidium (Fig. 40).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC74EFFB7FF65FD193C4BFE1B.taxon	description	Description of male. Coloration (Figs 38 – 40). Body testaceous; flagellum and legs stramineous. Ocellular triangle infuscated. Body clothed with sparse, erect, brachyplumose, whitish setae. T 1 lacking plumose fringe at distal margin. T 2 and S 2 with sparse fringe of whitish plumose setae. T 3 – 5 and S 3 – 5 each with sparser, less conspicuous fringe of whitish plumose setae. Setae sometimes tinged yellow. Head. Head distinctly rounded posteriorly. Mandible (Fig. 38) tridentate, moderately excised beneath, angle of ventral tooth oblique; dorsal carina incomplete; apex oblique; mandible slightly tapered beyond excision. Clypeus depressed slightly below margin of mandible, median area concave; surface of clypeus polished, almost impunctate, with few erect setae; apex moderately bidentate. F 1 approximately 0.66 X length of F 2. Ocelli moderate in size, ocellocular distance 1.25 – 1.5 X greatest width of lateral ocellus. Mesosoma. Sides and dorsum of pronotum glabrous, dorsum with small, shallow punctures. Mesonotum with small, sparse, shallow punctures, surface mostly glabrous. Notaulus incomplete on anterior 0.3 of mesonotum. Scutellum weakly punctate. Axillae not projecting posteriorly. Dorsum and posterior face of propodeum indistinctly reticulate, reticulations extending on to sides of propodeum, either remaining reticulate laterally or becoming coarse, punctate-reticulate. Anterolateral area of mesopleuron glabrous; remainder of mesopleuron with weak, sparse punctures only visible at certain angles; interstitial areas glabrous. Metapleuron polished. Mesosternal processes absent. Metasternum bidentate. Mid femur not swollen. Marginal cell on costa short, 0.75 – 0.8 X length of stigma. Metasoma. First metasomal segment sessile, slightly nodose when viewed laterally. Pygidium quadrate, strongly granulate (Fig. 40), but not strongly margined; S 2 with sternal felt line 0.3 – 0.5 X length of tergal felt line. Hypopygium quadrate. Genitalia (Fig. 66) with paramere acicular; cuspis elongate,> 0.75 X free length of paramere, and cylindrical basally, laterally flattened, densely setose along the ventral and inner margins. Length. 6.0 – 7.5 mm. Female. Unknown.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC74EFFB7FF65FD193C4BFE1B.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. Holotype: California, Riverside Co., Deep Canyon, 3. May. 1963 (UCRC). Paratypes: California, Riverside Co.: Deep Canyon, 2 males, 2. May. 1963, 1 males 15 – 18. May. 1970, 1 male, 30. May. 1963, 1 male, 22. Jun. 1963 (UCRC, EMUS); Painted Canyon, near Mecca, 4 males, 14. Apr. 1974, coll. M. Wasbauer (CDFA).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC74EFFB7FF65FD193C4BFE1B.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Known only from Deep Canyon and Painted Canyon.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC74EFFB7FF65FD193C4BFE1B.taxon	etymology	Etymology. Named after Raymond Thornton Chandler (1888 – 1959), who was an American crime writer that greatly influenced the modern private eye story and created the famous protagonist, Philip Marlowe.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC74EFFB7FF65FD193C4BFE1B.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This species currently should be placed into the S. noctivaga species-group based on presence of plumose setal fringes on the metasoma, T 1 broadly attaching to T 2 on the metasoma, and the forewing with a short marginal cell. However, differences in mandibular and genitalic morphology make this placement doubtful without the aid of molecular data. This species could be confused with S. sublobata, because the lobes on the hind coxae are quite similar. However, the pygidium of S. sublobata is glabrous, not granulate, and there are noticeable differences in the mandible, especially in the narrower size and shallower depth of the ventral excision in S. sublobata.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC749FFB7FF65FE133BC0F983.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis of male. This species is recognized by the deeply excised mandible (Fig. 21) with the tooth forming an acute angle and having a vertical apex, the lack of mesosternal processes, the marginal cell shorter (approximately 0.75 X) than the stigma, the first segment of the metasoma petiolate with the second segment and densely punctate, the second sternite with an anteromedial tumid region, and the genitalia with a long cylindrical cuspis that is setose ventrally with the apex having longer denser setae and parameres with dense setae located medially, but internally directed, along the internal margin (see Fig. 3 in Pitts et al. 2009). Diagnosis of female. Pitts et al. (2009) associated the female.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC749FFB7FF65FE133BC0F983.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. California, Riverside Co., Deep Canyon: 1 male, 3. May. 1963, 2 males, 16. May. 1963, 1 male, 18. May. 1969, 1 male, 24. May. 1969, 15 males, 23 – 24. May. 2007, 1 male, 30. May. 1964, coll. M. Irwin, 2 males, 1 – 4. Jun. 1970, 3 males, 5 – 13. Jun. 1973, 1 male, 13 – 18. Jun. 1969, 1 male, 18. Jun. 1969, 1 male, 13 – 20. Jun. 1973, 1 male, 20. Jun. 1963, 1 male, 29. Jun – 6. Jul. 1973, 3 males, 24 – 26. Jul. 1969, 1 male, 28. Jul – 17. Aug. 1973, 1 male, 5 – 7. Aug. 1969, 1 male, 11. Sep. 1969, 1 male, 26. Sep – 6. Oct. 1969, 1 male, 6 – 8. Oct. 1969, 1 male, 29. Oct – 2. Nov. 1969.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC749FFB7FF65FE133BC0F983.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Found throughout most of the southwestern USA.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC749FFB7FF65FE133BC0F983.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The males of this species are difficult to separate from S. django Pitts and Wilson and it is currently impossible to separate the females of S. difficilis and S. django based on morphology alone. Sphaeropthalma django is known only from the Algodones Sand Dunes and should not cause any problems with identification of Deep Canyon specimens.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC749FFB5FF65F9AB3A46F925.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis of male. This species is can be recognized by its quadrate head, the thickened apex of the clypeus (Fig. 41), the mid coxa with a median denticle present on the inner margin and diagnostic genitalia with which it shares features only with S. arnalduri, sp. nov. (Fig. 65), while lacking any mesosternal processes.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC749FFB5FF65F9AB3A46F925.taxon	description	Description of male. Coloration (Figs 41 – 43). Body testaceous; flagellum and legs stramineous to concolorous with body, sometime femur infuscated; metasoma varies from stramineous to testaceous. Body clothed with sparse, erect, brachyplumose, whitish setae. T 1 with sparse plumose fringe at distal margin. T 2 and S 2 with sparse fringes of whitish plumose setae. T 3 – 5 and S 3 – 5 each with sparser, less conspicuous fringe of whitish plumose setae. Setae somewhat yellow tinged. Figs. 59 - 67: Sphaeropthalma megagnathos: 59. Genitalia, ventral, dorsal, inner lateral view, and lateral view of penis valve (from Pitts 2006). Sphaeropthalma mendica: 60. Genitalia, dorsal, inner lateral view, and lateral view of penis valve (from Wilson & Pitts 2009). Sphaeropthalma pallida: 61. Genitalia, lateral view. Sphaeropthalma sublobata; 62. Genitalia, lateral view. Figs. 63 - 67, Genitalia, ventral view left, dorsal view right: 63. Sphaeropthalma tetracuspis; 64. Odontophotopsis hammetti, sp. nov.; 65. Sphaeropthalma arnalduri, sp. nov.; 66. Sphaeropthalma chandleri, sp. nov.; and 67. Sphaeropthalma mankelli, sp. nov. Head. Head distinctly quadrate posteriorly. Mandible (Fig. 41) tridentate, with weak rounded ventral tooth, lacking excision apical to tooth; dorsal carina incomplete forming slight dorsal lamella towards termination; apex oblique; mandible appearing tapered beyond excision in strict frontal view. Clypeus depressed slightly below margin of mandible, median area concave; surface of clypeus polished, almost impunctate, with few erect setae; apex truncate and distinctly thickened (Fig. 41). F 1 approximately 1 X length of F 2. Ocelli moderate in size, ocellocular distance 1.1 – 1.2 X greatest width of lateral ocellus (Fig. 42). Head weakly punctate. Mesosoma. Sides and dorsum of pronotum coarsely punctate, dorsum with moderate, shallow punctures, sides with somewhat larger, shallower punctures. Mesonotum with weak, separated, shallow punctures. Notaulus distinct, complete. Scutellum coarsely, confluently punctate. Axillae not projecting posteriorly. Dorsum and posterior face of propodeum conspicuously, shallow reticulate, reticulations extending on to sides of propodeum, either remaining reticulate laterally or becoming coarse, punctate-reticulate. Anterolateral area of mesopleuron mostly glabrous; remainder of mesopleuron with deeper, contiguous to confluent punctures; interstitial areas sometimes micropunctate. Metapleuron polished. Mesosternal processes absent. Metasternum bidentate. Mid femur not swollen. Mid coxa with distinct to indistinct denticle located medially on inner margin. Marginal cell on costa long, 1.75 – 2 X length of stigma. Metasoma. First metasomal segment petiolate. Pygidium shortened, quadrate, polished, not strongly margined; S 2 with sternal felt line 0.3 – 0.5 X length of tergal felt line. Hypopygium quadrate. Posterior margin slightly dentate medially. Genitalia with paramere acicular, only extreme apex curving dorsally; cuspis elongate,> 0.9 X free length of paramere, and cylindrical basally, dorsal face with central longitudinal swelling, apex spatulate, ventral face slightly concave, with basal pit, inner margin with shallow ventral notch anterior to spatulate area. Female. Unknown. Length. 11.5 – 13 mm.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC749FFB5FF65F9AB3A46F925.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. Holotype: California, Riverside Co., Corn Springs, 24. Jun. 2004, coll. K. Williams (EMUS). Paratypes: California, Riverside Co., Deep Canyon: 1 male, 2. May. 1936, 1 male, 15. May. 1969, 3 males, 16. May. 1963, 1 male, 19. May. 1973, 2 males, 6 – 13. Jun. 1969, 1 male, 13. Jun. 1963, 1 male, 20 – 24. Jun. 1969, 2 males, 24 – 26. Jun. 1969, 1 male, 1.2. Jul. 1969, 1 male, 3 – 7. Jul. 1969, 3 males, 10 – 12. Jul. 1969, 2 males, 19 – 21. Jul. 1969, 1 male, 23 – 24. Jul. 1969, 1 male, 26 – 28. Jul. 1969, 1 male, 30 – 31. Jul. 2007, 1 male, 7 – 9. Aug. 1969, 1 male, 9 – 11. Aug. 1969, 2 male, 11 – 13. Aug. 1969, 1 male, 16 – 17. Aug. 1969, 1 male, 5 – 9. Sep. 1969 (UCRC, EMUS).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC749FFB5FF65F9AB3A46F925.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Known only from Corn Springs and Deep Canyon.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC749FFB5FF65F9AB3A46F925.taxon	etymology	Etymology. Named after W. E. Ferguson who surveyed the mutillids of the Nevada Test Site in 1967 and published several critical papers on nocturnal mutillids.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC749FFB5FF65F9AB3A46F925.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This species belongs in a new S. fergusoni species-group, which also includes S. arnalduri, sp. nov., which is described later in this paper. The genitalia of S. arnalduri (Fig. 65) are quite similar to S. fergusoni, which were not illustrated. There are, however, other characters that are distinct between these species making the distinction of the two species credible. This species has tubercles on the hind coxae similar to those of S. blakeii. They are difficult to see in most cases being obscured by setae. The morphology of the mandibles coupled with that of the clypeus make this species distinctive enough to be identified. In Fig. 43, the black coloration of the gena is caused by some kind of oily substance that leaks out of older specimens; under natural circumstances, the gena should be the same color as the remainder of the head and actually is on the other side of the head of this individual.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC74BFFB4FF65F8F63CF2FDC5.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis of male. This species has a deeply excised tridentate mandible that has a complete dorsal carina and a vertical apex (Fig. 22), has sternal felt lines that are mere tufts, lacks mesosternal and coxal processes, and the genitalia have a clavate cuspis that has bifid-tipped setae located ventrally towards the apex (Fig. 56). Female. Unknown.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC74BFFB4FF65F8F63CF2FDC5.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. California, Riverside Co.: Deep Canyon, 2 males, 16. May. 1975, coll. J. Trucker.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC74BFFB4FF65F8F63CF2FDC5.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The western Sonoran Desert, Mojave Desert and northern California into Oregon and Washington.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC74BFFB4FF65F8F63CF2FDC5.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This species is placed in the S. orestes species-group. Members of this group can be recognized by their deeply emarginate mandibles, the weak sternal felt line and clavate to spatulate cuspis of the genitalia. Sphaeropthalma ferruginea is the only species in this group that has setae on the cuspis that are bifid tipped. All other species have simple setae on the cuspis. Sphaeropthalma militaris is another species in the S. orestes species-group that possibly be collected at Deep Canyon in the future. It would key out to couple 25 and could be recognized by the rows of inner directed setae present on toward the apices of the parameres of the genitalia (see Fig. 25 in Pitts et al. 2009).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC74AFFB4FF65FD5638F8FAFD.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis of male. This species is recognized by the weakly excised mandibles that have weak a ventral tooth (Fig. 23), by an elongate marginal cell that is at least 1.75 X the length of the stigma, and by the genitalia with a spatulate cuspis bearing bifid-tipped setae apically (Fig. 57), while lacking mesosternal processes, coxal processes, and a sternal felt line.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC74AFFB4FF65FD5638F8FAFD.taxon	description	Female. Unknown.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC74AFFB4FF65FD5638F8FAFD.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. California, Riverside Co.: 1 male, 26. Sep – 6. Oct. 1969, 1 male, 16 – 17. Oct. 1969.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC74AFFB4FF65FD5638F8FAFD.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Western Sonoran Desert into Baja California, Mexico.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC74AFFB4FF65FD5638F8FAFD.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This species could be confused with S. amphion (see the discussion of S. amphion). Sphaeropthalma ignacio was placed by Schuster (1958) in the S. albicincta species-group with S. arota (as S. helicaon and many synonyms), S. coaequalis, S. nokomis, S. pinales and S. bisetosa. Based on morphology, similarities in genitalia and Pitts et al. (2010), the S. albicincta species-group should be split into two separate groups. Sphaeropthalma ignacio should be placed in the newly designated S. lamyrus species-group along with S. jacala, which was previously placed in its own species group (Pitts and Parker, 2005), S. lamyrus, S. pinales and S. bisetosa. Sphaeropthalma arota, S. coaequalis, and S. nokomis should be placed into the S. arota species-group.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC74AFFBBFF65FA3E3C5DFE55.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis of male. This species has distinctive tridentate mandibles that are deeply excised ventrally and the apex is vertical and greatly dilated, which is similar to species of Acrophotopsis and Dilophotopsis, but more so that other species at Deep Canyon. Additionally, the clypeus is distinctly elongate and projects anteriorly (Fig. 24) and the genitalia have a distinctively shaped curved cuspis that bears a large seta filled pit (Fig. 58). This species sometimes has weak mesosternal processes located anteromedially.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC74AFFBBFF65FA3E3C5DFE55.taxon	description	Female. Unknown.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC74AFFBBFF65FA3E3C5DFE55.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. California, Riverside Co.: Deep Canyon, 1 male, 2. May. 1963, 1 male, 4 – 6. May. 1970, 1 male, 15. May. 1969, 1 male, 15 – 18. May. 1970, 2 males, 15 – 23. May. 1970, 5 males, 22 – 23. May. 2007, 15 males, 23 – 24. May. 2007, 2 males, 1 – 4. Jun. 1970, 1 male, 6 – 13. Jun. 1969, 7 males, 13 – 18. Jun. 1969, 5 males, 18 – 19. Jun. 1969, 1 male, 27 – 28. Jun. 1969, 1 male, 30. Jun. 1964, 1 male, 29. Jun – 6. Jul. 1973, 2 males, 5 – 13. Jul. 1973, 4 males, 13 – 14. Jul. 1969, 5 males, 30 – 31. Jul. 2007, 2 males, 26. Jul – 3. Aug. 1969, 10 males, 3 – 7. Aug. 1969, 2 males, 7 – 9. Aug. 1969, 2 males, 9 – 11. Aug. 1969, 5 males, 10 – 12. Aug. 1969, 3 males, 12 – 13. Aug. 1969, 7 males, 16 – 17. Aug. 1969, 3 males, 23 – 24. Aug. 1969, 2 males, 26 – 28. Aug. 1969, 1 male, 28 – 30. Aug. 19695 males, 26. Sep – 6. Oct. 1969, 2 males, 5 – 9. Oct. 1969, 1 male, 6 – 8. Oct. 1969, 1 male, 9. Oct. 1963.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC74AFFBBFF65FA3E3C5DFE55.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Sonoran and Mojave Deserts.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC74AFFBBFF65FA3E3C5DFE55.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Pitts (2007) erroneously stated in the key to the nocturnal genera that the clypeus of S. macswaini covered the mandibles. The clypeus of this species is diagnostic. However, it is elongate and the extreme apex overlies the greatly dilated and deeply excised mandibles, but does not obscure them.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC745FFBAFF65FDC63C37FE1B.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis of male. This species has distinctive bidentate mandibles (Fig. 44) that drastically taper towards their apices and are deeply excised ventrally. Also, this species lacks mesosternal and coxal processes, but has a very small marginal cell (Fig. 46: approximately 0.5 X the length of the stigma), which is unusual for species having a relatively large body. The genitalia are distinctive as well (Fig. 67).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC745FFBAFF65FDC63C37FE1B.taxon	description	Description of male. Coloration (Figs 44, 45). Body testaceous; flagellum and legs stramineous; ocellular triangle infuscated. Body clothed with sparse, erect, brachyplumose, whitish setae. T 1 lacking plumose fringe at distal margin. T 2 and S 2 with sparse fringe of whitish plumose setae. T 3 – 5 and S 3 – 5 each with sparser, less conspicuous fringe of whitish plumose setae. Setae tinged with yellow. Head. Head distinctly rounded posteriorly. Mandible (Fig. 44) bidentate, deeply excised ventrally, angle of excision rounded; dorsal carina incomplete; apex oblique; mandible strongly tapered beyond excision, acuminate. Clypeus depressed slightly below margin of mandible, median area concave; surface of clypeus polished, almost impunctate, with few erect setae; apex truncate. F 1 approximately 0.8 X length of F 2. Ocelli large in size, ocellocular distance approximately 1.1 X greatest width of lateral ocellus. Head only punctate at base of setae, punctures only slightly larger in width than base of setae; interstitial region glabrous; overall appearance glabrous. Mesosoma. Sides and dorsum of pronotum coarsely punctate. Mesonotum mostly glabrous with some shallow punctures. Notaulus distinct, complete. Scutellum with small, confluent punctures. Axillae not projecting posteriorly. Dorsum and posterior face of propodeum conspicuously, shallowly reticulate, reticulations extending on to sides of propodeum, either remaining reticulate laterally or becoming coarse, punctate-reticulate. Anterolateral area of mesopleuron with moderate, shallow, separated punctures; remainder of mesopleuron with deeper, contiguous to reticulate; interstitial areas glabrous. Metapleuron polished. Mesosternal processes absent. Metasternum bidentate. Mid femur not swollen. Coxae unmodified. Marginal cell on costa extremely short, approximately 0.5 X length of stigma (Fig. 46). Metasoma. First metasomal segment elongate, petiolate (Fig. 45). Pygidium elongate and ovate, polished, not strongly margined; S 2 with sternal felt line 0.3 – 0.5 X length of tergal felt line. Hypopygium elongate and ovate. Genitalia (Fig. 67) with paramere acicular. Cuspis 0.5 X free length of paramere; dorsoventrally flattened, spatulate, inner margin with lateral swelling at mid length; swelling with dense tuft of setae that coalesce into single point directed posteriorly. Female. Unknown. Length. 12 mm.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC745FFBAFF65FDC63C37FE1B.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. Holotype: Deep Canyon, Riverside Co., 24. Dec. 1963, at light, coll. E. Schlinger (UCRC).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC745FFBAFF65FDC63C37FE1B.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Only known from Deep Canyon.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC745FFBAFF65FDC63C37FE1B.taxon	etymology	Etymology. Named in honor of Henning Mankell (1948 – present), who is a renowned Swedish crime writer that is best known for his detective novels involving Inspector Kurt Wallander.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC745FFBAFF65FDC63C37FE1B.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This species is placed into the S. papaga species-group based on similarities in mandibular morphology (i. e., the mandible is acuminate towards the apex) and genitalia. This species group currently contains S. papaga, S. subcarinata, and S. borealis. The genitalia are similar to the first two species but differ from the latter. Sphaeropthalma mankelli can be separated from S. papaga and S. subcarinata by the lack of armature on the hind coxa, which the latter two species possess. In Fig. 45, the black substance on the posterior portion of the metasoma of the specimen is some kind of oily substance that leaks out of older specimens; this portion of the metasoma is actually the same color as the remainder of the metasoma. The holotype also has dermestid damage, which has destroyed one side of the mesosternum and the mid and hind coxae on one side. Also, the holotype is missing one pair of wings.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC744FFBAFF65FE133AA2FB73.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis of male. The male of this species can be recognized by mandibular morphology (Fig. 25; see Fig. 7 in Pitts, 2006). The mandibles are broadly dilated, especially the ventral portion apically, and is much wider distally than its width at the ventral angulation, the ventral basal tooth of the mandible is small, and the apex is vertical. Additionally, the head is long and parallel posteriorly, the clypeus is deeply depressed below the dorsal mandibular margin, the mesosternum lacks tubercles, the wings are yellowish-hyaline and a sternal felt line is absent. The genitalic morphology also is diagnostic (Fig. 59).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC744FFBAFF65FE133AA2FB73.taxon	description	Female. Unknown.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC744FFBAFF65FE133AA2FB73.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. USA: California, Riverside Co.: Deep Canyon, 1 male, 19. May. 1973, coll. M. Quillman, 1 male, 22 – 23. May. 2007, 1 male, 23. Jul. 1969.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC744FFBAFF65FE133AA2FB73.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The western Sonoran and Mojave deserts.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC744FFBAFF65FE133AA2FB73.taxon	discussion	Remarks. In some specimens the coloration of the setae is bright orange, although setal coloration varies from orange to white (see Fig. 29 in Pitts, 2006). The orangish specimens of S. megagnathos could easily be confused with S. luiseno or S. contracta based on coloration. They do not occur in Deep Canyon; S. luiseno has large projections bearing long, curved setae on the middle and hind coxae, while S. contracta has much smaller ocelli and different genitalic morphology (see Pitts et al. 2004).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC744FFB9FF65FABB3BEAFEE5.taxon	description	Mutilla aspasia Blake, 1879. Amer. Ent. Soc., Trans. 7: 250. Female. Holotype data: Nevada, type no. 4574 (ANSP). Photopsis nebulosus Blake, 1886. Amer. Ent. Soc., Trans. 13: 275. Male. Holotype data: Nevada, type no. 4549 (ANSP).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC744FFB9FF65FABB3BEAFEE5.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis of male. The male of this species can be recognized by having mandibles that are weakly excised ventrally with a indistinct basal tooth and an apex that is tridentate and oblique (Fig. 26), the posterior margin of the head is quadrate, the mesosternum lacks processes, the second metasomal sternite has a distinct felt line, and the pygidium is granulate. The genitalia of this species (Fig. 60) are quite similar to those of S. angulifera (Fig. 53) Diagnosis of female. The female of this species was diagnosed by Wilson and Pitts (2009).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC744FFB9FF65FABB3BEAFEE5.taxon	materials_examined	Materials examined. California, Riverside Co.: Deep Canyon, 1 male, 2 – 5. Jun. 2002, M. E. Irwin and F. D. Parker (EMUS), 1 male, 13. Jun. 1963, 1 male, 11. Nov. 1963.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC744FFB9FF65FABB3BEAFEE5.taxon	distribution	Distribution. This species is widespread in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts. It is also present in the Great Basin Desert, the Colorado Plateau and the Snake River Plain.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC744FFB9FF65FABB3BEAFEE5.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This species was recently resurrected from synonymy with S. unicolor (Wilson & Pitts 2009). This species occurs throughout the Coachella Valley and was referred to as S. unicolor in Pitts et al. (2009). There is a wide array of integumental coloration in this species. Specimens range from nearly black integument to a more reddish-brown color characteristic of most nocturnal mutillids. Female integumental coloration has a similar range as the males. The setal coloration rarely varies among S. mendica specimens. Some individuals have pale orange setae on their mesosoma, but the majority has entirely white setae. All specimens have dense fringes of white plumose setae on the apical margins of the tergites. Only the light forms have been collected at Deep Canyon.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC747FFB9FF65FE363BA9FB53.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis of male. This small species can be recognized by the deeply excised mandibles that are oblique apically (Fig. 27), a marginal cell that is approximate the same length as the stigma, the mesosternum lacks processes, the first metasomal segment is sessile with the second, plumose setal fringes are absent on the metasoma, and the cuspis of the genitalia is very short just barely surpassing the free length of the penis valve (Fig. 61).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC747FFB9FF65FE363BA9FB53.taxon	description	Female. Unknown.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC747FFB9FF65FE363BA9FB53.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. California, Riverside Co., Deep Canyon: 1 male, 4. May. 1974, 1 male, 4 – 6. May. 1970, 2 males, 15 – 23. May. 1970, 5 males, 16. May. 1963, 1 male, 1 – 4. Jun. 1970, 2 males, 6 – 13. Jun. 1969, 1 male, 13 – 18. Jun. 1969, 1 male, 27 – 28. Jun. 1969, 1 male, 20. Jun – 1. Jul. 1969, 1 male, 13 – 14. Jul. 1969, 1 male, 7 – 9. Aug. 1969, 1 male, 30. Aug – 7. Sep. 1973, 2 males, 11. Sep. 1969, 1 male, 25. Sep. 1969.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC747FFB9FF65FE363BA9FB53.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Widespread throughout the Southwest from Texas and Oklahoma to Mojave and Sonoran deserts.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC747FFB9FF65FE363BA9FB53.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Ferguson (1967) synonymized S. pallida and S. arizonae. We agree with this conclusion. This species could be confused with S. difficilis from which it can be separated by differences in the length of the genitalic cuspis. In S. pallida the cuspis (Fig. 61) barely surpasses the penis valve while in S. difficilis the cuspis is elongate (see Fig. 3 in Pitts et al. 2009).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC747FFB8FF65FADB3887FECE.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis of male. This small species can be recognized by the weakly excised mandibles that are oblique apically (Fig. 28), a marginal cell that is approximately 0.75 X the length of the stigma, the mesosternum lacks processes, the first metasomal segment is sessile with the second, plumose setal fringes are present on the metasoma, the hind coxa has large lobes, the pygidium glabrous, and the cuspis of the genitalia is thickened, densely setose, and long being approximately 0.75 X the free length of the paramere (Fig. 62).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC747FFB8FF65FADB3887FECE.taxon	description	Female. Unknown.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC747FFB8FF65FADB3887FECE.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. California, Riverside Co., Deep Canyon: 3 males, 13 Apr. 1969, 1 male, 15. May. 1969, 3 males, 18. May. 1969, 2 males, 21 – 29. May. 1973, 2 males, 27. May – 1. Jun. 1970, 1 male, 4 – 12. Jun. 1973, 1 male, 6 – 13. Jun. 1969, 10 males, 13 – 18. Jun. 1969, 1 male, 1 – 2. Jul. 1969, 1 male, 2 – 3. Jul. 1969, 1 male, 10 – 12. Jul. 1969, 1 male, 19 – 21. Jul. 1969, 1 male, 30. Sep – 3. Oct. 1973.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC747FFB8FF65FADB3887FECE.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Snake River Valley and Great Basin, Mojave and western Sonoran deserts.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC747FFB8FF65FADB3887FECE.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Schuster designated a holotype from Mt. Home, Idaho. He also designated a holotype from Ehrenberg, Arizona located in UMSP. This second holotype is not conspecific with the first holotype and does not match the characters Schuster (1958) listed for this species in his key. This species has been rarely collected and, although no specimens currently exist from these regions, it is presumed to be found in the Great Basin and Mojave deserts, given that it has been found in Idaho and southern California. This species is placed into the S. noctivaga species-group that also contains S. brachyptera, S. chandleri, S. noctivaga, and S. yumaella.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC746FFB8FF65FE693A7CFB1D.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis of male. It can be recognized by having mandibles that are weakly excised ventrally with an indistinct basal tooth and an apex that is tetradentate and oblique (Fig. 29) and is similar in shape to that of S. mendica (Fig. 55), the posterior margin of the head is quadrate, the mesosternal lacks processes, the second metasomal sternite has a distinct felt line, and the pygidium is granulate. The genitalia (Fig. 63) are similar to those of S. angulifera (Fig. 53) and S. mendica (Fig. 60).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC746FFB8FF65FE693A7CFB1D.taxon	description	Female. Unknown.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC746FFB8FF65FE693A7CFB1D.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. California, Riverside Co., Deep Canyon: 2 males, 13. May. 1963, 1 male, 16. May. 1963, 1 male, 24. May. 1963, coll. M. Irwin.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC746FFB8FF65FE693A7CFB1D.taxon	distribution	Distribution. The western Sonoran Desert into Baja California, Mexico.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC746FFB8FF65FE693A7CFB1D.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This species is in the S. unicolor species-group along with S. angulifera, S. mendica, S. pinalea, S. subtriangularis and S. unicolor. This species is similar to S. mendica and differences in their genitalia are difficult to distinguish, although the cuspis of S. tetracuspis seems to be longer. Besides the differences in the mandibles of these two species, the clypeus of S. tetracuspis is distinctive, the posterior portion pushed forward and the anterior portion shortened. Laterally the clypeus looks curved almost in a ‘ C’ shape. The clypeus of the other members of this group is flat anteriorly and gently curved posteriorly.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC746FFB8FF65FB1E3D4CF8DB.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis of male. The male of this species is easily recognized by the triangular shaped posterior margin of the head, the weakly excised mandibles that are oblique apically (Fig. 30), the lack of mesosternal processes, the lobe-like projections on the hind coxae, and the triangulate posterior projection of the apex of the hind tibia. The genitalia are illustrated by Pitts et al. (2009) in Fig. 26. Diagnosis of female. The female of this species was described in Pitts et al. (2009).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC746FFB8FF65FB1E3D4CF8DB.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. California, Imperial Co.: Algodones dunes 7 mi. SE Glamis, 32 ° 55 ’ 20 ” N 114 ° 59 ’ 14 ” W, 1 female, 19. Mar. 1979 – 24. Mar. 1979 (CDFA).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC746FFB8FF65FB1E3D4CF8DB.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Southwestern USA.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC746FFB8FF65FB1E3D4CF8DB.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Sphaeropthalma triangularis is widespread and not endemic to Deep Canyon. This species previously placed in its own species-group and was moved to Schuster’s S. rustica species-group by Pitts et al. (2009). Given that the addition of this species-group differs from that of Schuster (1958) with the addition of S. triangularis and exclusion of S. pluto and S. juxta, we chose to rename this the S. unicolor species-group. This species-group is further discussed in the remarks section of S. tetracuspis.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC741FFBFFF65FF633876FBC3.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis of male. This species is recognized by the strongly excised mandible (Fig. 31), the lack of mesosternal processes, the marginal cell that is shorter than the stigma, the first segment of the metasoma that is sessile with the second segment, and the genitalia that have a long thick cylindrical cuspis that tapers apically and has a large basal pit on the internal margin (see Pitts et al. 2009: Fig. 6).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC741FFBFFF65FF633876FBC3.taxon	description	Female. Unknown, but see Pitts et al. (2009).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC741FFBFFF65FF633876FBC3.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. California, Riverside Co., Deep Canyon: 1 male, 5 – 17. Apr. 1970, 4 males, 2. May. 1963, 1 male, 15. May. 1969, 1 male, 15 – 23. May. 1970, 1 male, 16. May. 1962, 4 males, 16. May. 1963, 1 male, 18. May. 1969, 1 male, 19. May. 1973, 28 males, 22 – 23. May. 2007, 1 male, 24. May. 1969, 1 male, 5 – 13. Jun. 1973, 3 males, 6 – 13. Jun. 1969, 1 male, 13. Jun. 1963, 2 male, 20. Jun. 1963, 2 males, 13 – 18. Jun. 1969, 1 male, 18 – 19. Jun. 1969, 1 male, 24 – 26. Jun. 1969, 1 male, 30. Jun. 1964, 1 male, 29. Jun – 6. Jul. 1973, 2 males, 3 – 7. Jul. 1969, 4 males, 7. Jul. 1964, 3 males, 10. Jul. 1963, 3 males, 10 – 12. Jul. 1969, 1 male, 11 – 13. Jul. 1969, 1 male, 13 – 20. Jul. 1973, 1 male, 19 – 21. Jul. 1969, 2 males, 23. Jul. 1969, 1 male, 23 – 24. Jul. 1969, 12 males, 30 – 31. Jul. 2007, 1 male, 4 – 5. Aug. 1969, 4 males, 5 – 7. Aug. 1969, 1 male, 5 – 9. Sep. 1969, 2 males, 9 – 11. Aug. 1969, 3 males, 16 – 17. Aug. 1969, 1 male, 24. Aug. 1969, 2 males, 25 – 26. Aug. 1969, 1 male, 11. Sep. 1969, 2 males, 23. Sep. 1963, 1 male, 25. Sep. 1969, 5 males, 26. Sep – 6. Oct. 1969, 3 males, 6 – 8. Sep. 1969, 1 male, 9. Oct. 1963, 1 male, 11. Nov. 1963, 1 male, 10 – 22. Dec. 1969.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC741FFBFFF65FF633876FBC3.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Mojave Desert from Southern Nevada southward throughout the Sonoran Desert of Arizona and southern California into Baja California, Mexico.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC741FFBFFF65FF633876FBC3.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This species is widespread and not endemic to Deep Canyon. This species is placed into the S. noctivaga species-group that also contains S. brachyptera, S. chandleri, sp. nov., S. noctivaga, and S. yumaella.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC743FFBDFF65FC763A52FAD3.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Members of this species-group can be recognized by mandibular morphology in which the apex of the mandible is tridentate and almost horizontal, and the ventral margin is not excised and has a weak angulate tooth. This species group also has the apical margin of the clypeus thickened and for one species dorsally bent forming a flange. Lastly, the genitalia are distinctive with the cuspis being elongate, cylindrical basally but spatulate apically, the dorsal face has a central longitudinal swelling, while the ventral face is slightly concave, and the inner margin has a deep ventral notch anterior to spatulate area making the apex of the cuspis appear mitten-shaped when viewed dorsally. Included species. Sphaeropthalma arnalduri Pitts and S. fergusoni Pitts.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC743FFBDFF65FC763A52FAD3.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Due to the quadrate condition of the head, the weak tooth on the ventral margin of the mandible, the fact that one species has dentate hind coxae, and similarities in genitalia, this species-group is likely most closely related to S. blakeii and S. cexyoides.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC743FFBCFF65FA5B3A63FBDF.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis of male. The male of this species can be recognized by the clypeus, which is thickened and upturned apically (Figs 34, 35), by the genitalic characters (Fig. 63) that it shares only with S. fergusoni, sp. nov., and fact that it is apterous (Fig. 36, 37). Apterous in this case includes complete fusion of the mesosoma (Fig. 36), except for the pronotum, such that scutellum is unrecognizable and the tegulae are absent.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC743FFBCFF65FA5B3A63FBDF.taxon	description	Description of male. Coloration (Figs 34 – 37). Body testaceous; flagellum and legs slightly lighter than the body. Body clothed with sparse, erect, brachyplumose, whitish-orange-brown setae. T 1 with sparse plumose fringe at distal margin. T 2 and S 2 with sparse fringe of whitish plumose setae. T 3 – 5 and S 3 – 5 each without conspicuous fringe of whitish plumose setae. Head. Head distinctly quadrate and elongate posteriorly (Fig. 34). Mandible tridentate (Fig. 35), with very weak angulate ventral tooth, lacking excision apical to ventral tooth; dorsal carina incomplete, appearing on slightly lamellate; apex oblique; mandible parallel beyond excision in frontal view. Clypeus not depressed below margin of mandible, median area concave; surface of clypeus polished, almost impunctate, with few erect setae; apex truncate, greatly thickened and dorsally bent (Figs 34, 35). F 1 approximately 0.75 X length of F 2. Ocelli miniscule in size (Fig. 34), ocellocular distance approximately 4 X or greater than greatest width of lateral ocellus. Head coarsely punctate. Mesosoma. Mesothorax, metathorax and propodeum fused (Fig. 36). Dorsum of mesosoma coarsely punctate (Fig. 36), Notaulus absent. Scutellum and axillae indiscernible (Fig. 36). Dorsum of propodeal area coarsely punctate becoming conspicuously, shallow reticulate, reticulations extending on to sides of propodeum posteriorly. Anterolateral area of mesopleuron with moderate, shallow, separated punctures; remainder of mesopleuron with deeper, contiguous to confluent punctures; interstitial areas glabrous. Metapleuron polished. Mesosternal processes absent. Metasternum bidentate. Mid femur not swollen. Apterous (Figs 36, 37). Metasoma. First metasomal segment sessile (Fig. 37). Pygidium quadrate, polished, not strongly margined; S 2 with sternal felt line 0.3 – 0.5 X length of tergal felt line. Hypopygium quadrate. Genitalia (Fig. 65) with paramere acicular, only extreme apex curving dorsally; cuspis elongate,> 0.9 X free length of paramere, and cylindrical basally, dorsal face with central longitudinal swelling, apex spatulate, ventral face slightly concave, with basal pit, inner margin with deep ventral notch anterior to spatulate area. Length. 10 – 14.5 mm. Female. Unknown.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC743FFBCFF65FA5B3A63FBDF.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. Holotype: California, Inyo Co., Owens Lake Valley, mid May – mid June, coll. Andrews and Hardy (CDFA). Paratypes: California, Inyo Co., Owens Lake Valley: 3 males, mid May – mid June, coll. Andrews, Hardy and Giuliani; 5 males, Jun – Jul, coll. Andrews, Hardy and Giuliani; 3 males, mid Jul – mid Aug, coll. Andrews, Hardy and Giuliani (CDFA; EMUS).	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC743FFBCFF65FA5B3A63FBDF.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Known only from Owens Lake Valley.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC743FFBCFF65FA5B3A63FBDF.taxon	etymology	Etymology. Named after Arnaldur Indriðason (1961 to present) who is an Icelandic writer of crime fiction and is currently best known for his detective novels involving Detective Erlender Sveinsson.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
504687FBC743FFBCFF65FA5B3A63FBDF.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This species belongs in the new S. fergusoni species-group (described above), which also includes S. fergusoni, sp. nov., described earlier in this paper. The defining characteristics of this speciesgroup are given in the remarks section for S. fergusoni.	en	Pitts, James P., Wilson, Joseph S., Williams, Kevin A., Boehme, Nicole F. (2010): Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. Zootaxa 2553: 1-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.196847
