Sphaeropthalmini

Key to genera of Sphaeropthalmini in Central and North America

Females

1. Vertex and mesosomal dorsum throughout with specialized appressed setae that are distinctly plumose basally and simple or brachyplumose apically; T6 usually with defined pygidial plate... Odontophotopsis Viereck, 1903 (not treated in this paper)

- Vertex and mesosomal dorsum with each seta either simple, brachyplumose, or plumose; if interspersed plumose and simple setae present on mesonotum, then T6 often convex and smooth, with pygidial plate indistinct or absent........ 2

2 (1). Mesonotum dorsomesally with shorter distinctly plumose setae interspersed with longer simple or brachyplumose setae. 3

- Mesonotum dorsomesally with simple or brachyplumose setae only, if plumose setae present, then plumose setae absent from middle of mesonotum.......................................................................... 6

3 (2). T1 shape short sessile, with indistinct sparse setae; T2 sculpture generally sparse with IS>PD..................................................................... Sphaeropthalma Blake, 1871 , in part (not treated in this paper)

- T1 shape petiolate or subpetiolate, with distinct erect plumose setae; T2 sculpture coarse with PD>IS............... 4

4 (3). Ventral mandibular tooth large, distinct; T6 with or without lateral carinae; nocturnal species................................................................................ Laminatilla Pitts, 2007 (3 species, treated below)

- Ventral mandibular tooth indistinct or absent; T6 without lateral carinae; diurnal species.......................... 5

5 (4). Body, at least head and mesosoma, predominantly orange-brown to brown; head setae sparse, similar to setae of mesonotum; mesosoma pleura with concave smooth regions (widespread).............................................................................................. Sphaeropthalma Blake, 1871 , in part (not treated in this paper)

- Body entirely black; head with dense white plumose setae, contrasting with predominantly black mesonotal setae; mesosomal pleura entirely densely punctate ( Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama)................................................................................. Xystromutilla André, 1905 (not treated in this paper)

6 (2). T6 smooth or microreticulate mesally, pygidial plate undefined.............................................. 7

- T6 with pygidial plate, surface generally microreticulate, striate, or rugose.................................... 13

7 (6). T1 shape broadly sessile, ~0.7 × T2 width; diurnal species.................................................. 8

- T1 shape variable, more narrowly sessile, subsessile, disciform, or petiolate, less than 0.6 × T2 width; diurnal or nocturnal species.......................................................................................... 9

8 (7). Mandible edentate apically; head and mesosoma with shallow areolate sculpture ( Panama)................................................................................ Nanotopsis Schuster, 1949 (not treated in this paper)

- Mandible bidentate apically, head and mesosoma densely punctate (widespread)..................................................................................... Protophotopsis Schuster, 1947 (not treated in this paper)

9 (7). T2 disc with basal patch of black cuticle or darkened setae; T1 shape narrowly subsessile........................ 10

- T2 disc without basolateral patches of darkened setae or cuticle, setae usually uniformly silvery or dark brown, cuticle usually uniformly brown or black; T1 shape variable: petiolate, disciform, subsessile, or sessile................... 11

10 (9). T2 basally with black cuticular patches anterolaterally, rest of body pale orange (Madrean Archipelago)................................................................ Stethophotopsis maculata Pitts in Pitts & McHugh, 2000

- Color not as above, metasoma uniformly brownish or blackish, with anterolateral dark patches formed by setae only (widespread)................................ Acanthophotopsis Schuster, 1958 , in part (5 species, treated below)

11 (9). T2 disc entirely with coarse longitudinal areolations, intervals often rounded, postero-mesally with slightly sparser large areolations; T2 disc remarkably swollen, much wider than T2 fringe area; T1 shape narrowly subsessile (Mojave and Sonoran Deserts)............................................... Acanthophotopsis falciformis Schuster, 1958

- T2 disc with sparser sculpture, at most areolate anteriorly, always with separated punctures in posterior half; T2 disc not swollen as above, not much wider than T2 fringe area; T1 shape variable: petiolate, disciform, subsessile, or sessile (widespread)..................................................................................... 12

12 (11). Mesosoma sub-rectangular in dorsal view, propodeum scarcely narrower than pronotum, humeral angle with sharp angular carina; mesosomal pleura usually smooth, mostly impunctate and asetose except for vertical mesopleural ridge (rare).................................................. Photomorphus Viereck, 1903 , in part (not treated in this paper)

- Mesosoma generally pear-shaped, propodeum usually much narrower than pronotum, humeral angle usually with weaker carina; mesosomal pleura variable, often with more extensive sculpture and setae (common)..................................................................... Sphaeropthalma Blake, 1871 , in part (not treated in this paper)

13 (6). T1 shape narrowly petiolate, broadest sub-mesally, generally less than 0.4 × T2 width........................... 14

- T1 shape generally subsessile, narrow or broad, broadest apically, generally greater than 0.4 × T2 width............ 18

14 (13). Basal third of mandible with large tooth ventrally and small sharp tooth dorsally............................... 15

- Basal third of mandible not as above, with ventral tooth reduced or dorsal tooth absent.......................................................................... Sphaeropthalma Blake, 1871 , in part (not treated in this paper)

15 (14). T2 cuticle bicolored: orange anteromesally, black laterally and posteriorly.................................................................................... Sphaeropthalma Blake, 1871 , in part (not treated in this paper)

- T2 cuticle basically uniformly brown to blackish........................................................ 16

16 (15). T2 disc basally with distinct scattered tubercles, disc sculpture areolate with cariniform intervals throughout, shape convex; mesosomal dorsum usually with short bushy plumose setae, especially on dorsum of propodeum (widespread)............................................................. Acrophotopsis Schuster, 1958 (5 species, treated below)

- T2 basally without distinct tubercles, sculpture with separated punctures and flat intervals at least in posterior half; mesosomal dorsum without short bushy plumose setae; if T2 with apparent tubercles or propodeal dorsum with apparent plumose setae, then T2 disc mesally flattened and/or T2 disc with separated punctures in posterior half............. 17

17 (16). Genal carina as strong as occipital carina, though somewhat interrupted by puncture margins (known only from high elevation in San Bernardino County , California)........................... Schusterphotopsis barghesti Pitts, 2003

- Genal carina usually obliterated, if intervals aligned, then apparent genal carina much weaker than occipital carina (widespread)........................................... Dilophotopsis Schuster, 1958 (3 species, treated below)

18 (13). Head and mesosoma reddish, metasoma blackish with black setae except distinct white plumose fringes on T1 and T2, setae of T3–5 blackish; eye small; mesosoma with three distinct arched carinae in scutellar area and a transverse post-pronotal carina (Pacific coastal areas)................................................. Morsyma ashmeadi Fox, 1899

- Body color variable, if head and mesosoma reddish and metasoma blackish, then fringes of T1–5 generally sparser, concolorous whitish; eye usually larger; mesosomal carinae often inconspicuous (widespread).................... 19

19 (18). Mesosoma sub-rectangular in dorsal view, propodeum scarcely narrower than pronotum; T1 shape sessile................................................................. Photomorphus Viereck, 1903 (not treated in this paper)

- Mesosoma generally pear-shaped, propodeum usually much narrower than pronotum; T1 shape variable, either petiolate, subsessile, or sessile.............................. Sphaeropthalma Blake, 1871 , in part (not treated in this paper)