Acanthophotopsis, Schuster, 1958

ACANTHOPHOTOPSIS Schuster, 1958

( Figs 2–80 View FIGURES 2–13 View FIGURES 14–19 View FIGURES 20–26 View FIGURES 27–38 View FIGURES 39–47 View FIGURES 48–56 View FIGURES 57–68 View FIGURES 69–80 , 284 View FIGURES 284–285 )

Acanthophotopsis Schuster, 1958: 5 (in key), 88. Type species: Acanthophotopsis falciformis Schuster, 1958 . Acanthophotopsis : Tanner et al. 2009: 203. Key to species.

Diagnosis. FEMALE. Females can be recognized by the following combination of characters: mandible without ventral tooth basally; mesonotum with simple and brachyplumose setae only; T1 shape narrowly sub-sessile; T2 with coarse areolation, at least basally; and T6 convex without defined pygidial plate. Usually, the T2 disc has basolateral patches of reddish-brown or blackish setae. MALE. Males can be immediately recognized by the mesosternal armature, which consists of a large posteriorly directed conical peg. The following characters are also useful for diagnosis: mandible with ventral tooth indistinct or absent; mid-tibia swollen and often with only one spur; and hypopygium wider than long with truncate or weakly convex posterior margin.

Included species. Six species known from both sexes ( Aca.bequaertii Schuster, 1958 ; Aca. dorophora Schuster, 1958 ; Aca. evansii Schuster, 1958 ; Aca. falciformis Schuster, 1958 ; Aca. virguncula ( Blake, 1886) ; and Aca. snellingi Tanner & Pitts, 2009 ).

Remarks. This genus is widespread and more species-rich than most others treated here but is surprisingly uncommon in collections. In the last seven years, KAW has collected over 1000 males of Acrophotopsis dirce ( Fox, 1899) , but only 12 Acanthophotopsis specimens, representing three species (KAW, pers. obs.). In recent studies, nearly 15,000 nocturnal females have been examined from more than 25 museums by KAW and JPP; only 19 female specimens of Acanthophotopsis are known (KAW & JPP, pers. obs.).

Key to Acanthophotopsis species

Females

1. T2 disc coarsely longitdunally areolate throughout, intervals mostly rounded or cariniform, postero-mesally with areolations slightly sparser and intervals flatter; anterior portion with sparse brown setae not forming distinct patches ( Fig. 5 View FIGURES 2–13 ) ( USA: AZ, CA, NV: Mohave and Sonoran Deserts)........................................... Aca. falciformis Schuster, 1958

- T2 disc less coarsely sculpted, at most with coarse areolations anterolaterally beneath distinct patches of appressed dark brown or blackish setae, posterior portion of T2 disc with separated punctures ( Figs 2–4, 6–7 View FIGURES 2–13 ).............................. 2

2 (1). Legs and metasoma blackish or dark brown, clearly darker than orange-brown head and mesosoma ( Figs 2, 3, 7 View FIGURES 2–13 , 14, 16, 19 View FIGURES 14–19 ). ................................................................................................... 3

- Body integument basically uniformly brown, mesosoma and T2 disc more or less concolorous ( Figs 3, 6 View FIGURES 2–13 , 15, 18 View FIGURES 14–19 )......... 5

3 (2). Dark setal pattern at base of T2 entire, not interrupted by longitudinal mesal band of silvery setae ( Fig. 4 View FIGURES 2–13 ); posterior fifth of T2 disc with erect setae only ( Fig. 16 View FIGURES 14–19 ); T2 slightly wider than long ( Fig. 4 View FIGURES 2–13 ) ( MEX: CHH, COA; USA: NM, TX)............................................................................................ Aca. evansii Schuster, 1958

- Dark setal pattern at base of T2 interrupted by longitudinal mesal band of silvery setae, forming two separated dark patches ( Figs 2, 7 View FIGURES 2–13 ); posterior third of T2 disc with numerous appressed or decumbent setae ( Figs 14, 19 View FIGURES 14–19 ); T2 slightly longer than wide ( Figs 2, 7 View FIGURES 2–13 )........................................................................................... 4

4 (3). T2 disc cuticle blackish, concolorous with T3–5 ( Figs 2 View FIGURES 2–13 , 14 View FIGURES 14–19 ) ( USA: AZ; MEX: CHH, SON)...................................................................................................... Aca. bequaertii Schuster, 1958

- T2 disc cuticle dark brown, usually somewhat lighter than blackish T3–5 ( Figs 7 View FIGURES 2–13 , 19 View FIGURES 14–19 ) ( USA: CO, NM, OK, TX)............................................................................ Aca. virguncula ( Blake, 1886) , comb. nov.

5 (2). Mesonotum with dorsal setae orange-brown, lighter than blackish anterolateral T2 patches ( Figs 3 View FIGURES 2–13 , 15 View FIGURES 14–19 ); T2 longer than wide ( Fig. 15 View FIGURES 14–19 ) ( USA: AZ, CA, NV: Mohave and Sonoran Deserts).......................... Aca. dorophora Schuster, 1958

- Mesonotum with dorsal setae blackish, concolorous with black anterolateral T2 setal patches ( Figs 6 View FIGURES 2–13 , 18 View FIGURES 14–19 ); T2 wider than long ( Fig. 6 View FIGURES 2–13 ) ( MEX: DGO).......................................... Aca. snellingi Tanner & Pitts in Tanner et al., 2009

Males

1. Mandible quadridentate, with large inward-facing blunt tooth at midpoint ( Fig. 48 View FIGURES 48–56 ) ( USA: AZ, CA, NV: Mohave and Sonoran Deserts)..................................................................... Aca. falciformis Schuster, 1958

- Mandible tridentate, without inward-facing blunt tooth at midpoint ( Figs 39, 42, 45 View FIGURES 39–47 , 51, 54 View FIGURES 48–56 ).......................... 2

2 (1). Mandible apically oblique, dorsal carina becoming obsolete before inner apical tooth ( Figs 39–41 View FIGURES 39–47 , 54–56 View FIGURES 48–56 ); clypeal base with mesal longitudinal carina and tubercle..................................................................... 3

- Mandible apically vertical, dorsal carina continuous to inner apical tooth ( Figs 42–44, 45–47 View FIGURES 39–47 , 51–53 View FIGURES 48–56 ); clypeal base unarmed. ................................................................................................... 4

3 (2). Metasoma black, contrasting with orange head and mesosoma ( Figs 20 View FIGURES 20–26 , 27 View FIGURES 27–38 ); vertex elongate behind eye ( Fig. 27 View FIGURES 27–38 ); marginal cell subequal in length to stigma ( USA: AZ; MEX: CHH, SON)............................ Aca. bequaertii Schuster, 1958

- Metasoma brown, like head and mesosoma, at most with apical tergites darker brown ( Figs 26 View FIGURES 20–26 , 32 View FIGURES 27–38 ); vertex rounded behind eye; marginal cell clearly longer than stigma ( USA: CO, NM, OK, TX)...................... Aca. virguncula Schuster, 1958

4 (2). Vertex rounded, lateral margin convergent directly behind eye ( Fig. 45 View FIGURES 39–47 ); clypeus largely vertical, not plate-like ( Fig. 45 View FIGURES 39–47 ); metasoma, at least T2, darker brown than mesosoma ( Fig. 22 View FIGURES 20–26 ) ( MEX: CHH, COA; USA: NM, TX)................................................................................................... Aca. evansii Schuster, 1958

- Vertex elongate, lateral margin parallel directly behind eye (e.g. Fig. 42 View FIGURES 39–47 ); clypeus forming horizontal plate ( Figs 43 View FIGURES 39–47 , 51 View FIGURES 48–56 ); metasoma predominantly reddish-brown, at most with apical tergites darker brown ( Figs 21, 25 View FIGURES 20–26 )...................... 5

5 (4). Paramere acuminate apically ( Fig. 61 View FIGURES 57–68 ); marginal cell along costa ~1.05 x stigma length ( Fig. 21 View FIGURES 20–26 ) ( USA: AZ, CA, NV: Mohave and Sonoran Deserts).......................................................... Aca. dorophora Schuster, 1958

- Paramere wide throughout its length until extreme apex ( Fig. 73 View FIGURES 69–80 ); marginal cell along costa ~ 1.25 x stigma length ( Fig. 31 View FIGURES 27–38 ) ( MEX: ZAC)................................................ Aca. snellingi Tanner & Pitts in Tanner et al., 2009