Acrophotopsis bergi Casal, 1967

Acrophotopsis bergi Casal, 1967 , ♂ ♀

( Figs 81, 87 View FIGURES 81–92 , 93 View FIGURES 93–98 , 99, 105 View FIGURES 99–110 , 111–112 View FIGURES 111–118 , 125–128 View FIGURES 125–147 , 148–151 View FIGURES 148–163 )

Acrophotopsis bergi Casal, 1967: 2 . Holotype male: Mexico, Morelos, 3 mi N Alpuyeca , at light, 3.XII.1959, H.E. Evans and D.M. Anderson (CUIC), examined.

Diagnosis. FEMALE. This species can be immediately recognized by the pygidial morphology; the pygidial plate is elongate sub-rectangular with irregular striae basally and mostly smooth sculpture apically ( Fig. 105 View FIGURES 99–110 ). The following features are also diagnostic: the epaulet tubercle is relatively small ( Fig. 87 View FIGURES 81–92 ); the body has scattered orange or brown setae dorsally ( Figs 81 View FIGURES 81–92 , 93 View FIGURES 93–98 ) and the T2 disc entirely areolate with the basal tubercles often absent. Body length 4–6 mm. MALE. This species can be immediately recognized by the pronotum, with its complete transverse suture between the epaulest, and the genitalic cuspis, with its inner surface concave with four thick curved bristles ( Figs 148–149 View FIGURES 148–163 ). Body length 8–11 mm.

Description. Female (hitherto unknown). Coloration. Body uniformly pale orange-brown, except legs and apical metasomal tergites somewhat darker brown. Body setae entirely pale silvery, except vertex, mesosomal dorsum, T2 disc, and T3–5 with erect setae largely orange or brown. Head. Head width 0.9 × mesonotal width; vertex width 0.8 × mesonotal width. Frons convex; vertex rounded; frons and vertex areolate-punctate. Eye large, ovate, in lateral view, height 1.25 × width; in anterior view, inner eye margins sub-parallel, malar space 0.6 × eye height, vertex height 0.9 × eye height, interocular distance 2.0 × eye height. Clypeus with mesal tubercle. Genal sculpture areolate; without genal and postgenal carinae. Mandible oblique, bidentate apically; dorsal basal carina terminating in small sharp tooth in basal third; ventrally with large, rounded tooth basally. Antennal scrobe with apparent dorsal carina interrupted by adjacent areolation margins. Antennal tubercle rounded, shagreened with faint carinae and punctures. F1 length 1.8 × pedicel length; F2 1.6 × pedicel length. Mesosoma. Mesosomal length 1.0 × width; mesosomal length 0.9 × T2 length; mesosomal width 0.9 × T2 width. Humeral carina not reaching epaulet dorsally, terminating in small sharp tubercle; epaulet placed on small tubercle; humeral corner forming blunt dentate angle in dorsal view; lateral pronotal sculpture areolate; setae sparse, brachyplumose; dorsal and lateral surfaces evenly rounded. Mesosomal dorsum coarsely areolate, intervals reduced to carinae and scattered tubercles; setae interspersed erect and appressed brachyplumose; lacking scutellar scale or defined transverse arcuate carinae. Ratio of transverse distances, in dorsal view, between epaulets, humeral angles, anterior spiracles, widest lateral mesonotal margins, propodeal spiracles, and posterolateral propodeal corners 79:85:99:100:86:83. Vertical mesopleural ridge with coarse areolations; metapleuron and mesopleuron (posterior to ridge) smooth. Propodeum areolate dorsally, evenly rounded into posterior face with shallower areolations; lateral propodeal surface with faint shallow punctures, differentiated by punctation. Metasoma. T1 shape narrowly petiolate, apical width 0.4 × T2 maximum width; T1 disc areolate-punctate; disc setae interspersed short plumose and long brachyplumose; fringe plumose. S1 with sharp longitudinal carina. T2 length 1.0 × width; disc areolate throughout with many longitudinal intervals cariniform, basally sometimes forming tubercles; disc setae mostly erect brachyplumose, without short distinctly plumose setae on disc; fringe plumose; T2 felt line linear, 0.25 × T2 length; posterior felt line edge terminating at 0.6 × T2 length. S2 sculpture slightly finer than T2 sculpture, with baso-mesal longitudinal punctate ridge. T3–5 disc with interspersed appressed short and erect long simple to brachyplumose setae; fringe setae plumose. Pygidial plate elongate sub-rectangular with posterior margin rounded, basal width similar to mesal width, maximum length 1.5 × mesal width; with irregular striae basally and mostly smooth sculpture apically.

Material examined. MEXICO: Guerrero, 5 km W Tixtla , 16.IX.1982, 1710m, at light, J.A. Powell and J.A. Chemsak ( 1♂, EMEC) ; Jalisco: Autlan de la Grana, road to Microondas San Francisco , 4.VII.2018, J.F. Limon and F. Skillman ( 1♂, CSCA) ; Guadalajara , 4.IX.1965, A.R. and G.M. Gillogly ( 2♀, SDNHM) ; Guadalajara , El Ixtepete, 1.VIII.1963, J.J., A.R., and G.M. Gillogly ( 19 ♀, SDNHM) ; Oaxaca, 14.5 km S Ocotlan , 3.VI.198, 1500m, W. Mackays ( 1♀, EMUS) . See Pitts & McHugh (2002) for additional records .

Distribution. Mexico: Guerrero *, Jalisco *, Morelos, Oaxaca *, and Puebla.

Remarks. This species occurs farther South than any other Acrophotopsis species. The sex association is based on coloration and distribution. Males and females are unique in having the body mostly pale orange-brown with the apical tergites darkened. The only known females were collected in two localities and have not yet been examined from the same locality as any male specimen, but they occur in similar habitats at high elevations less than 150 km away from sites with male records. They also occur outside the range of any other Acrophotopsis males. The female from Oaxaca has the T2 disc with tighter areolations and distinct raised tubercles anteromesally, while the females from Jalisco have wider T2 disc areolations and the raised tubercles reduced or absent. No further differences were seen to separate these females and no substantial differences were found between males in these areas.