Dilophotopsis paron (Cameron, 1896)

Dilophotopsis paron (Cameron, 1896) , ♂ ♀

( Figs 178–179, 183, 186 View FIGURES 176–187 , 190–191 View FIGURES 188–193 , 198–201 View FIGURES 194–205 , 210–213 View FIGURES 206–217 )

Sphaerophthalma [ sic] paron Cameron, 1896: 88 . Holotype male: Mexico, Northern Sonora, Morrison (BMNH) , examined.

Dilophotopsis concolor sonorensis Schuster, 1958: 88 . Holotype male: USA, Arizona, Gila Bend , 24.IV.1935, F. H. Parker (UMSP), examined. Synonymized by Wilson & Pitts (2008).

Dilophotopsis concolor paron : Mickel 1965: 1.

Dilophotopsis paron : Wilson & Pitts 2008: 520.

Diagnosis. FEMALE. This species can be recognized by coloration and metasomal shape: the mesonotum and T2 disc are covered with pale grayish yellow setae ( Figs 178–179 View FIGURES 176–187 ), and the T2 disc is slightly flattened mesally with coarser sculpture anteriorly. Body length 5–9 mm. MALE. This species can be immediately recognized by the evenly rounded and dorsally shagreened mesosternal tubercles ( Fig. 201 View FIGURES 194–205 ). Additionally, the mandible is clearly dilated apically with the dorsal and ventral margins widely divergent beyond the ventral excision ( Figs 199–200 View FIGURES 194–205 ), the legs are usually entirely pale yellow-brown, the metasoma is usually uniformly concolorous with the mesosoma ( Figs 190–191 View FIGURES 188–193 ), and the cuspis is rounded along the outer margin ( Figs 210–211 View FIGURES 206–217 ). Body length 9–13 mm.

Description. Female (hitherto unknown). Coloration. Body uniformly pale orange-brown, except legs and antennae somewhat lighter yellow-brown, and apical metasomal tergites somewhat darker brown. Body setae entirely gray to pale yellow, except mesonotum and T2 disc with slightly darker yellowish appressed setae. Head. Head width 0.75 × mesonotal width; vertex width 0.75 × mesonotal width. Frons convex; vertex sub-quadrate; frons and vertex areolate-punctate. Eye large, ovate, in lateral view, height 1.3 × width; in anterior view, malar space 0.7 × eye height, vertex height 1.1 × eye height, interocular distance 2.3 × eye height. Clypeus with mesal tubercle. Genal sculpture areolate; without genal and postgenal carinae. Mandible oblique, bidentate apically; dorsal basal carina terminating in small sharp tooth in basal third; ventrally with large, rounded tooth basally. Antennal scrobe apparent dorsal carina interrupted by adjacent areolation margins. Antennal tubercle with many parallel indistinct carinae, forming oblique weak shelf margined by thickest carina. F1 length 1.9 × pedicel length; F2 1.4 × pedicel length. Mesosoma. Mesosomal length 1.0 × width; mesosomal length 1.0 × T2 length; mesosomal width 0.95 × T2 width. Humeral carina not reaching epaulet dorsally; epaulet placed on scarcely raised tubercle; humeral corner forming blunt angle in dorsal view; lateral pronotal sculpture with dense punctures and smooth intervals; setae sparse, brachyplumose; dorsal and lateral surfaces separated by weakly defined carina. Mesosomal dorsum coarsely areolate, intervals reduced to carinae and scattered tubercles; setae interspersed erect and appressed brachyplumose; lacking scutellar scale or defined transverse arcuate carinae. Ratio of transverse distances, in dorsal view, between epaulets, humeral angles, anterior spiracles, widest lateral mesonotal margins, propodeal spiracles, and posterolateral propodeal corners 78:82:98:100:83:73. Vertical mesopleural ridge with coarse areolations; metapleuron and mesopleuron (posterior to ridge) smooth with few scattered setae. Propodeum areolate dorsally, evenly rounded into posterior face with shallower areolations; lateral propodeal surface with faint shallow punctures, differentiated by punctation. Metasoma. T1 shape narrowly petiolate, apical width 0.45 × T2 maximum width; T1 disc areolate-punctate; disc setae interspersed short plumose and long brachyplumose; fringe plumose. S1 with blunt longitudinal carina, with pre-apical notch. T2 length 0.95 × width; disc areolate anteriorly with many longitudinal intervals cariniform and sometimes forming apparent tubercles, becoming moderately punctate with flat intervals posteriorly; disc setae interspersed appressed simple and erect brachyplumose setae; fringe plumose; T2 felt line linear, 0.25 × T2 length; posterior felt line edge terminating at 0.65 × T2 length. S2 sculpture similar to posterior half of T2, with baso-mesal longitudinal punctate ridge. T3–5 disc with interspersed appressed short and erect long simple to brachyplumose setae; fringe setae plumose. Pygidial plate triangular, basal width 1.3 × medial width, maximum length 1.0 × maximum width; sculpture densely microreticulate.

Material examined. MEXICO, Baja California: Bahia de Los Angeles ( 2♀, CASC EMUS) ; 3 mi S San Jose Castillo ( 1♀, CASC) ; 10 mi. S Catavina ( 1♀, UMSP) ; Baja California Sur: 1 mi SW Eido Esperanza ( 2♂, CSCA) ; Rancho Tablon , 13 km S Guillermo Preto ( 31♂, CSCA) ; USA: Arizona, Mohave Co., Lime Kiln Canyon Road , 7.2 mi SE Virgin River ( 1♀, CSCA) ; California: Inyo Co. : Eureka Valley ( 8♀, EMUS) ; Owens Lake Valley ( 41♀, CSCA EMUS) ; Riverside Co. : Palm Springs ( 7♀, UMSP) ; Whitewater Canyon Palms ( 1♀, CSCA) ; San Bernardino Co. : Afton Canyon Campground ( 10♀, CSCA) ; JTNM, Pleasant Valley ( 4♀, CASC) ; JTNM, Quail Guzzler ( 1♀, CASC) ; JTNP, 0.7 mi S Squaw Tank ( 1♀, CASC) ; San Diego Co., Jacumba ( 2♀, CASC) ; Nevada: Clark Co. : Newberry Mts , N of Bridge Cyn ( 1♀, CASC) ; Lava Butte Wash at NV167 ( 1♀, CASC) ; Lee Canyon, Toiyabe Reservoir ( 1♀, EMUS) . See Wilson and Pitts (2008) for additional records .

Distribution. Mexico: Baja California, Baja California Sur *; USA: Arizona, California, and Nevada.

Remarks. The sex association is based on males and females collected in the same localities, and particularly in California desert localities where D. paron is the only Dilophotopsis species present.