Acanthophotopsis bequaertii Schuster, 1958

Acanthophotopsis bequaertii Schuster, 1958 , ♂ ♀

( Figs 2, 8 View FIGURES 2–13 , 14 View FIGURES 14–19 , 20 View FIGURES 20–26 , 27, 33 View FIGURES 27–38 , 39–41 View FIGURES 39–47 , 57–60 View FIGURES 57–68 )

Acanthophotopsis bequaertii Schuster, 1958: 101 . Holotype male: USA, Arizona, Hereford , 16.IX.1935, F. H. Parker (UMSP), examined.

Stethophotopsis cremauranti Pitts & Manley, 2002: 674 . Holotype female: Mexico, Chihuahua, 3 mi E Parral, 5800’, 30.IV.1953, Creighton (CNCI), examined, syn. nov.

Diagnosis. FEMALE. This species can be recognized by its coloration: the head and mesosoma are orange-brown, the metasoma is blackish with dense whitish setae, except for a baso-lateral patch of blackish setae ( Figs 2 View FIGURES 2–13 , 14 View FIGURES 14–19 ). The T2 disc is slightly longer than wide, has appressed or decumbent whitish setae in the posterior third ( Fig. 2 View FIGURES 2–13 ), and is coarsely areolate basally and moderately to sparsely punctate in the posterior half. Body length 7–9 mm. MALE. This species can be recognized by the following combination of characters: mandible tridentate without inward-facing blunt tooth ( Fig. 40 View FIGURES 39–47 ), apically oblique with the dorsal carina terminating near mid-length ( Fig. 41 View FIGURES 39–47 ); clypeus armed basally with mesal tubercle and longitudinal carina ( Fig. 39 View FIGURES 39–47 ); vertex elongate with lateral margins parallel directly behind eyes ( Fig. 27 View FIGURES 27–38 ); metasoma blackish, contrasting with reddish-orange head and mesosoma ( Figs 20 View FIGURES 20–26 , 27 View FIGURES 27–38 ); and free paramere length wide throughout it length until extreme apex ( Fig. 57 View FIGURES 57–68 ). Body length 8–11 mm.

Material examined. USA, Arizona, Cochise Co., Portal , 4700’, 28.VII.1964, J. H. Puckle, M. A. Mortenson, and M. A. Cazier ( 1♂, UAIC) ; San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge , 6–7.VIII.2021, E. E. and K. A. Williams ( 3♂, CSCA EMUS) ; Pima Co., Colossal Cave , 25.VIII.1970, R. E. Woodruff ( 1♂, FSCA) ; Santa Cruz Co. , 2 mi S Canelo Pass , 26.VII.2006, P. H. Sullivan ( 1♀, CSCA) ; MEXICO, Chihuahua: 3 mi E Parral , 5800’, 30.IV.1953, Creighton ( 1♀ holotype, CNCI) ; 21 mi S Parral , 5600’, 30.IV.1953, Creighton ( 1♀ paratype, CNCI) ; Durango, Nombre de Dios , 6.VIII.1951 ( 1♂ MIUP) . See Tanner et al. (2009) for additional records .

Distribution. Mexico: Chihuahua and Durango; USA: Arizona.

Remarks. The female of this species, formerly Stethophotopsis cremauranti Pitts & Manley 2002 , syn. nov., was initially placed in that genus based on multiple structural similarities and the bright apparently diurnal coloration ( Pitts & Manley 2002). After the sex associations of Acanthophotopsis falciformis and A. dorophora , however, the following characters are recognized to define females of Acanthophotopsis : mandible without large ventral tooth basally; T1 shape narrowly subsessile; metasoma with more or less unicolorous cuticle with areas of darkened setae basally; and pygidium convex, without defined plate. Most of these features are shared by the monotypic genus Stethophotopsis Pitts in Pitts & McHugh, 2000. The genera are clearly closely related and metasomal coloration seems to be the only reliable way to differentiate the females. Stethophotopsis have the metasoma bright orange with black cuticular patches basally, while Acanthophotopsis have the metasomal cuticle more or less uniformly brown or blackish with the darkened basal patches formed by setae.

The sex association for Aca. bequaertii is based on overlapping distribution (high elevations in Arizona, USA and Chihuahua, Mexico) and similar coloration (head and mesosoma bright reddish-orange and metasoma black with silvery setae).