Laminatilla bicornigera ( Schuster, 1958 )

Laminatilla bicornigera ( Schuster, 1958) , ♂ ♀

( Figs 218–219, 222, 224 View FIGURES 218–225 , 226–227 View FIGURES 226–231 , 232–235 View FIGURES 232–243 , 244–247 View FIGURES 244–255 )

Odontophotopsis ( Odontophotopsis) bicornigera Schuster, 1958: 56 . Holotype male: Mexico, Baja California Sur, San José del Cabo , 9.VII.1958, Michelbacher & Ross (UMSP), examined.

Laminatilla bicornigera : Pitts 2007: 37.

Diagnosis. FEMALE. This species can be recognized by having the pygidium with an apparent pygidial plate that is defined by lateral carina throughout the posterior half of T6 ( Fig. 224 View FIGURES 218–225 ); additionally, the mandible has an indistinct tooth along the inner surface near mid-length ( Fig. 222 View FIGURES 218–225 ). Body length 6.5 mm. MALE. This species can be recognized by the following combination of characters: antennal tubercle armed with dorsal tooth ( Figs 232–234 View FIGURES 232–243 ); mandible with large dorsal carina above apical teeth ( Figs 232–234 View FIGURES 232–243 ); mesosternal processes laterally flattened, somewhat transparent ( Fig. 235 View FIGURES 232–243 ), connected by transverse carina anteriorly; and legs pale yellow-brown, lighter than body color ( Figs 226–227 View FIGURES 226–231 ). Body length 11–15 mm.

Description. Female (hitherto unknown). Body length 6.5 mm. Coloration. Body uniformly brown, except legs and antennae somewhat lighter yellow-brown. Body setae uniformly pale whitish, except mesosomal dorsum and T2 disc with darker brown setae. Head. Head width 0.9 × mesonotal width; vertex width 0.8 × mesonotal width. Frons convex; vertex rounded, elongated posteriorly; frons and vertex with deep contiguous punctures. Eye large, ovate, in lateral view, height 1.35 × width; in anterior view, inner eye margins sub-parallel, malar space 0.7 × eye height, vertex height 1.3 × eye height, interocular distance 1.95 × eye height. Clypeus with longitudinal mesal carina. Gena sculpture areolate; genal and postgenal carinae obliterated. Mandible oblique, bidentate apically, with obscure third inner tooth near mandibular midpoint; dorsal basal carina continuous nearly to inner apical tooth; ventrally with large acute tooth basally. Antennal scrobe without dorsal carina. Antennal tubercle smooth, tubercles separated. F1 length 2.1 × pedicel length; F2 1.8 × pedicel length. Mesosoma. Mesosomal length 1.2 × width; mesosomal length 0.9 × T2 length; mesosomal width 0.7 × T2 width. Humeral carina not reaching epaulet dorsally; humeral corner with blunt angular tubercle; epaulet tubercle slightly smaller than humeral tubercle; lateral pronotal sculpture deeply punctate with thick cariniform intervals; setae distinctly plumose. Mesosomal dorsum coarsely areolate-punctate, intervals mostly shagreened; setae interspersed erect long brachyplumose and shorter distinctly plumose; with apparent transverse arcuate carinae in scutellar area. Ratio of transverse distances, in dorsal view, between epaulets, humeral angles, anterior spiracles, widest lateral mesonotal margins, propodeal spiracles, and posterolateral propodeal corners 70:89:100:100:91:90. Vertical mesopleural ridge scarcely differentiated from coarsely areolate and densely setose mesopleuron and metapleuron. Propodeum areolate throughout with densely plumose setae; dorsal, lateral, and posterior propodeal surfaces not well differentiated. Metasoma. T1 shape petiolate, width 0.4 × T2 maximum width; T1 disc deep areolate; disc setae erect plumose and brachyplumose; fringe setae plumose. S1 with high punctate longitudinal carina. T2 length 0.9 × width; disc convex with deep dense to separated punctures, intervals shagreened; disc setae interspersed long erect brachyplumose and short erect plumose; T2 fringe setae dense plumose; T2 felt line ovate, 0.3 × T2 length; posterior felt line edge terminating at 0.6 × T2 length. T3–5 disc setae interspersed long erect brachyplumose and short erect plumose; fringes dense plumose. Pygidium smooth, convex, lacking defined pygidial plate.

Material examined. MEXICO, Baja California Sur, 2 mi. E of El Coyote , NE of La Paz, near ocean beach ( 1♀, CASC). An additional 12 males were examined from Baja California Sur, Mexico ( EMEC, FSCA, UAIC, UMSP). See Pitts (2007) for additional records .

Distribution. Mexico: Baja California Sur.

Remarks. After discovery of the female of L. lamellifera (see below), this sex association became obvious based on similarity of this female to that of L. lamellifera and distribution in Baja California Sur, where only one species of Laminatilla is known. Furthermore, this female has a slight trace of an internal tooth at the midpoint of the mandible, approximating the morphology of the male’s mandible.