Acrophotopsis, Schuster, 1958

ACROPHOTOPSIS Schuster, 1958

( Figs 81–175 View FIGURES 81–92 View FIGURES 93–98 View FIGURES 99–110 View FIGURES 111–118 View FIGURES 119–124 View FIGURES 125–147 View FIGURES 148–163 View FIGURES 164–175 , 285 View FIGURES 284–285 )

Acrophotopsis Schuster, 1958: 4 (in key), 61. Type species: Acrophotopsis dirce Fox, 1899 (as A. eurygnathus Schuster, 1958 ). Acrophotopsis : Pitts & McHugh 2002: 348. Key to species.

Acrophotopsis : Pitts & Wilson 2009: 206. Female description.

Diagnosis. FEMALE. Females can be recognized by the combination of these three characters: mandible basally with small sharp dorsal tooth and large ventral tooth; mesosomal dorsum with short bushy plumose setae, at least on dorsal surface of propodeum; and T2 disc with scattered tubercles basally and sculpture usually areolate throughout. The following characters are also useful for identification: gena with ventral carina usually weak or absent; T1 shape narrowly petiolate; and pygidial plate usually triangular with microreticulate sculpture. MALE. This genus can be recognized by the following combination of characters: mandible apically widely dilated and tridentate with large ventral tooth basally; mesosternal area unarmed; and hypopygium flattened, posterior margin widely emarginate mesally, antero-laterally with longitudinal carina.

Included species. Six species: Acr. bergi Casal, 1967 ; Acr. campylognatha Schuster, 1958 ; Acr. dirce ( Fox, 1899) ; Acr. mickeli Pitts, 2002 ; Acr.paratropicalis Williams , sp. nov.; and Acr.pumasunam Williams , sp. nov.

Remarks. Before the female was associated, the genus was reviewed by Pitts & McHugh (2002) and included four species. Later, Pitts & Wilson (2009) associated the females for the two species present in the USA. Since then, two new species were discovered, and females were recognized for the two previously unassociated species.

Key to Acrophotopsis

Females

(unknown in Acr. paratropicalis sp. nov.)

1. Pygidial plate elongate sub-rectangular, with irregular striae basally and sculpture mostly smooth apically ( Fig. 105 View FIGURES 99–110 ) ( MEX: JAL (inland), MOR, OAX, PUE)........................................................ Acr. bergi Casal, 1967

- Pygidial plate more or less triangular, sculpture predominantly microreticulate ( Figs 106–110 View FIGURES 99–110 )........................ 2

2 (1). Pygidial plate wider than long ( Figs 107, 108 View FIGURES 99–110 ) ( USA: AZ, CA, NM, NV; MEX: SON).............. Acr. dirce ( Fox, 1899)

- Pygidial plate longer than wide ( Figs 106, 109–110 View FIGURES 99–110 ) (known only from Mexico and Colorado Desert in California)........ 3

3 (2). Epaulet with sharp triangular spine, spine larger than largest tubercles at base of T2 ( Figs 91, 92 View FIGURES 81–92 ) ( MEX: JAL: coastal)............................................................................ Acr. pumasunam Williams , sp. nov.

- Epaulet generally with shorter blunter tubercle, tubercle usually not larger than largest tubercles at base of T2 ( Figs 88–90 View FIGURES 81–92 ).. ................................................................................................... 4

4 (3). Mesonotum and T2 disc setae whitish or pale orange ( Figs 82 View FIGURES 81–92 , 94 View FIGURES 93–98 ) ( USA: CA; MEX: BC, BCS)............................................................................................... Acr. campylognatha Schuster, 1958

- Mesonotum and T2 disc setae dark brown ( Figs 85 View FIGURES 81–92 , 97 View FIGURES 93–98 ) ( MEX: BCS).......... Acr. mickeli Pitts in Pitts & McHugh, 2002

Males

1. Pronotum with complete transverse suture between epaulets; cuspis with inner surface concave with four thick curved bristles ( Figs 148–149 View FIGURES 148–163 ); T2 pale brown, contrasting with darker brown T3–6 ( Figs 111–112 View FIGURES 111–118 ) ( MEX: JAL (inland), MOR, OAX, PUE).................................................................................. Acr. bergi Casal, 1967

- Pronotum with transverse suture interrupted between epaulates; cuspis basically straight without thick bristles along inner surface ( Figs 152–154, 156–158, 160–162 View FIGURES 148–163 , 164–166, 168–170, 172–174 View FIGURES 164–175 ); metasomal color variable, with T2 darker than or concolorous with T3–6 ( Figs 113–118 View FIGURES 111–118 , 119–124 View FIGURES 119–124 )............................................................ 2

2 (1). Entire body concolorous pale brown, legs somewhat lighter brown than mesosoma ( Fig. 113–114 View FIGURES 111–118 ) ( USA: CA; MEX: BC, BCS)................................................................... Acr. campylognatha Schuster, 1958

- T2 and/or femoral apices darker brown or blackish (at least near felt lines) ( Figs 115–124 View FIGURES 111–118 View FIGURES 119–124 )........................... 3

3 (2). Frons with discrete raised triangular carina adjacent to clypeus ( Figs 145–146 View FIGURES 125–147 ); legs orange-brown, concolorous with mesosoma ( Figs 123–124 View FIGURES 119–124 ) ( MEX: JAL: coastal).......................................... Acr. pumasunam Williams , sp. nov.

- Frons basically flat, at most indistinctly raised above clypeus ( Figs 133–134, 137–138 View FIGURES 125–147 ); leg color variable ( Figs 115–118 View FIGURES 111–118 , 119–122 View FIGURES 119–124 )............................................................................................ 4

4 (3). Outer margin of paramere with few elongate setae, these setae not surpassing paramere apex in dorsal view ( Figs 168–169 View FIGURES 164–175 ); posterior half of cuspis nearly triangular, clearly dilated apically with angular outer margin ( Figs 168–169 View FIGURES 164–175 ); legs orange-brown, concolorous with mesosoma ( Figs 121–122 View FIGURES 119–124 ) ( MEX: SON)....................... Acr. paratropicalis Williams , sp. nov.

- Outer margin of paramere with fringe of many long setae, multiple setae surpassing paramere apex in dorsal view ( Figs 156– 157, 160–161 View FIGURES 148–163 , 164–165 View FIGURES 164–175 ); cuspis more or less parallel-sided, only scarcely dilated apically with smoothly rounded outer margin ( Figs 156–157, 160–161 View FIGURES 148–163 , 164–165 View FIGURES 164–175 ); legs pale yellow-brown, lighter than mesosoma, except apical portion of femur sometimes dark brown ( Figs 115–118 View FIGURES 111–118 , 119–120 View FIGURES 119–124 )...................................................................... 5

5 (4). Paramere not especially flattened, width beyond setal fringe similar to cuspis width ( Figs 164–165 View FIGURES 164–175 ) ( MEX: BCS)........................................................................................... Acr. mickeli Pitts, 2002

- Paramere clearly dorsoventrally flattened throughout its length, width beyond setal fringe clearly greater than cuspis width ( Figs 156–157, 160–161 View FIGURES 148–163 ) ( USA: AZ, CA, NM, NV; MEX: SON).............................. Acr. dirce ( Fox, 1899)