Laminatilla lamellifera ( Schuster, 1958 )

Laminatilla lamellifera ( Schuster, 1958) , ♂ ♀

( Figs 220–221, 223, 225 View FIGURES 218–225 , 228–229 View FIGURES 226–231 , 236–239 View FIGURES 232–243 , 248–251 View FIGURES 244–255 )

Odontophotopsis ( Odontophotopsis) lamellifera Schuster, 1958: 56 . Holotype male: USA, Arizona, Gila Co., Globe , 31.VII.1935, F.H. Parker (UMSP), examined.

Laminatilla lamellifera : Pitts 2007: 39.

Diagnosis. FEMALE. This species can be recognized by having the pygidium convex without a defined pygidial plate ( Fig. 225 View FIGURES 218–225 ); additionally, the mandible is apically bidentate without a tooth along the inner surface near mid-length ( Fig. 223 View FIGURES 218–225 ). Body length 5–9 mm. MALE. This species can be recognized by the following combination of characters: antennal tubercle unarmed ( Figs 236–238 View FIGURES 232–243 ); mandible with dorsal carina relatively evenly curving toward apical teeth, not distinctly narrowed pre-apically ( Fig. 238 View FIGURES 232–243 ); mesosternal processes laterally flattened, somewhat transparent ( Fig. 239 View FIGURES 232–243 ), separated anteriorly; and legs pale yellow-brown, lighter than body color ( Figs 228–229 View FIGURES 226–231 ). Body length 10–16 mm.

Description. Female (hitherto unknown). Coloration. Body uniformly pale brown, except legs and antennae somewhat lighter yellow-brown; and fringes of T2 and S2, and T3–6 and S3–6 entirely somewhat darker brown. Body setae uniformly pale whitish, except some specimens with mesosomal dorsum and T2 disc with darker yelloworange to blackish-brown setae. Head. Head width 0.8 × mesonotal width; vertex width 0.75 × mesonotal width.Frons convex; vertex rounded, elongated posteriorly; frons and vertex with deep contiguous punctures. Eye large, ovate, in lateral view, height 1.3 × width; in anterior view, inner eye margins sub-parallel, malar space 0.6 × eye height, vertex height 1.0 × eye height, interocular distance 1.8 × eye height. Clypeus with longitudinal mesal carina. Gena sculpture areolate; genal and postgenal carinae obliterated. Mandible oblique, bidentate apically, without third inner tooth near mandibular midpoint; dorsal carina more distinct basally, weakly continuous nearly to inner apical tooth; ventrally with large acute tooth basally. Antennal scrobe without dorsal carina. Antennal tubercle smooth or weakly shagreened, tubercles separated. F1 length 2.0 × pedicel length; F2 2.0 × pedicel length. Mesosoma. Mesosomal length 1.0 × width; mesosomal length 0.75 × T2 length; mesosomal width 0.75 × T2 width. Humeral carina not reaching epaulet dorsally; humeral corner with blunt angular tubercle; epaulet tubercle larger 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 58:81:95:100:86:77. 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 0.45 × T2 maximum width; T1 disc deep areolate; disc setae erect brachyplumose and plumose; fringe setae plumose. S1 with raised punctate longitudinal ridge. T2 length 1.0 × width; disc convex with deep dense to separated punctures, intervals smooth; disc setae interspersed long erect brachyplumose and short erect plumose; T2 fringe setae dense plumose; T2 felt line ovate, 0.4 × T2 length; posterior felt line edge terminating at 0.7 × T2 length. S2 sculpture as in T2. 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, Sinaloa, 5 mi N Mazatlan , 27.VII.1964, J. A. Chemsak and J. Powell ( 1♂, CSCA) ; USA, Arizona, Cochise Co., Ramsey Canyon, Huachuca Mountains , ( 1♀, CSCA); Leslie Canyon National Wildlife Refuge, coll. W. Radke: 18.V.2004 ( 1♀, DGMC); 20.V.2005 ( 1♀, DGMC); 4.V.2009 ( 1♀, DGMC); 16.VI.2009 ( 1♀, DGMC); coll. E. E. and K. A. Williams: 20–21.VII.2020 ( 3♂, CSCA EMUS); 7–8.VIII.2021 ( 2♂, CSCA EMUS); 17–18.VI.2022 ( 3♂, CSCA EMUS); Coconino Co., Grand Canyon National Park, Colorado River mi 43, 4.VI.1998, S. Morgan ( 1♂ 1♀, EMUS); Graham Co., Gillespie Wash, 30 km S Safford, 15–16.VI.2022, E. E. and K. A. Williams ( 2♂, CSCA); Mohave Co., Lime Kiln Canyon Road , 7.2 mi. SE Virgin River ( 1♀, CSCA); Pima Co. : Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument , Alamo Canyon trailhead, 2–12.V.2006, M. E. Irwin ( 2♂, CSCA); Alamo Canyon , Ajo Mountains , V.1987, Olson and Mall ( 4♀, CSCA UAIC); Watermann Mountains , VII.1988, Mall et al. ( 5♀, CSCA UAIC); Santa Cruz Co. , 5 mi. SW Patagonia ( 1♀, AMNH). An additional 40 males were examined from Arizona , USA and Sonora, Mexico ( CASC, CSCA, EMUS, FSCA, UAIC, UMSP). See Pitts (2007) for additional records .

Distribution. Mexico: Sinaloa * and Sonora; USA: Arizona and New Mexico.

Remarks. The sex association was initially suggested by discovery of a male and female collected in the same pitfall trap from the Grand Canyon National Park. The putative females are similar in size and coloration to males. Furthermore, both sexes have similarities in the large ventral mandibular tooth, elongate petiolate T1 shape, and undefined pygidium. They also have denser and shaggier plumose setae on the body than most other genera. Finally, females and males were found from the same locality multiple times in Arizona, including Alamo Canyon in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Pima County and Leslie Canyon National Wildlife Refuge, Cochise County.