Dasymutilla vesta Cresson 1865

Dasymutilla vesta (Cresson 1865)

(Figs 4, 23, 35, 68–71)

Mutilla Vesta Cresson, 1865. Proc. Ent. Soc. Phil. 4: 436. Lectotype (designated by Mickel, 1928 by referencing the “ type ” [Art. 74.5, ICZN, 1999]), Ƥ, Colorado Territory (ANSP).

Scolia unicincta Provancher, 1882. Nat. Canad. 13: 6. Lectotype, 3 (designated by Gahan & Rohwer 1918: 196) (Provancher collection, No. 751) [ULQC].

Mutilla monozona Dalla Torre, 1897. Cat. Hym. 8: 64. N. name for Scolia unicincta Provancher, not Mutilla unicincta Lucas.

Mutilla sappho Fox, 1899. Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. 25: 239. Lectotype (designated by Mickel, 1928 by referencing the “ type ” [Art. 74.5, ICZN, 1999]),, Ƥ, Georgia; Florida; Capron, Lake Worth, March, Mrs. Slosson coll. (ANSP).

Mutilla agenor Fox, 1899. Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. 25: 245. Lectotype (designated by Mickel, 1928 by unambiguously referencing the “ type ” [Art. 74.5, ICZN, 1999], 3, Algonquin, Illinois, August 14, 1916 Nason coll. (ANSP).

Mutilla zella Rohwer, 1910. Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash. 12: 50. Holotype, Ƥ, Wenonah, New Jersey, July 28, F. Haimbach coll. (USNM Type No. 12914).

Pycnomutilla harmoniiformis Rohwer, 1912. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 41: 455. Holotype, 3, Lyme, Connecticut, July 31, 1910, A. B. Champlain coll. (USNM Type No. 14123).

Dasymutilla errans Rohwer, 1912. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 41: 457. Holotype, Ƥ, Brownsville, Texas, August 30, 1896, Townsend coll. (USNM Type No. 14127).

Dasymutilla bosquensis Rohwer, 1912. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 41: 457. Holotype, Ƥ, Waco, Bosque County, Texas (USNM No. 14128).

Dasymutilla ferrugatella Rohwer, 1912. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 41: 458. Holotype, Ƥ, Pennsylvania, Baker coll. (USNM Type No. 14130).

Dasymutilla coloradella Rohwer, 1912. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 41: 458. Holotype, Ƥ, Colorado, May 3, 1909, S. A. Rohwer coll. (USNM Type No. 14131).

Dasymutilla coloradella virginica Rohwer, 1912. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 41: 459. Holotype, Ƥ, Woodstock, Virginia, June 9, 1898, F. C. Pratt coll. (USNM Type No. 14132).

Dasymutilla coloradella kamloopsensis Rohwer, 1912. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 41: 459. Holotype, Ƥ, Kamloops, British Columbia, Wickham coll. (USNM Type No. 14133).

Dasymutilla texensis Rohwer, 1912. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 41: 460. Holotype, Ƥ, Texas (USNM Type No. 14137).

Dasymutilla mesillae Rohwer, 1912. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 41: 461. Holotype, Ƥ, Mesilla, New Mexico, June 17, T.D. Cockerell coll. (USNM Type No. 14138) [USNM].

Dasymutilla carolina Rohwer, 1912. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 41: 462. Holotype, Ƥ, Columbia, South Carolina, G. F. Atkins (USNM Type No. 14141).

Dasymutilla columbiana Mickel, 1928. U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 143: 119. Holotype, 3, Nicola, British Columbia, August 3, 1923, E. R. Buckell (CNCI Type No. 2817).

Dasymutilla archboldi Schmidt & Mickel: Manley 1983: J. Georgia Ent. Soc. 18: 252, 3 nec Ƥ; 1984: 228, 3.

Diagnosis. FEMALE. The female of this species (Fig. 23) can be separated from other Dasymutilla by the following combination of characters: the integument of the head and mesosoma is pale orange to red, there is a narrow scutellar scale, there are no transverse carinae anterior to the scutellar scale, and the propodeum is punctate or weakly reticulate. MALE. The male of this species can be separated from other Dasymutilla by the following combination of characters: the tegulae are coarsely punctate (Fig. 4), the mesonotum is raised and expanded laterally (Fig. 4), and T3–7 are clothed entirely with black setae (Fig. 35).

Description of male genitalia (Figs 68–71). Free length of paramere dorsally curved apically, with ventral brush of long dense setae basally, remainder having scattered short sparse setae; paramere not kinked laterally. Cuspis laterally compressed, ~0.75 × free-length of paramere, having long setae throughout, setae of outer surface longer and denser; outer row of setae anteriorly directed, inner row posteriorly directed. Densely setose basal lobe present. Digitus laterally curved internally, tapering slightly at apex, asetose, ~0.4 × free-length of paramere. Penial valve emarginated anterodorsally, ventral margin bidentate apically, teeth separated, unidentate medially; having longitudinal row of setae at apex and subapically on external margin.

Length. Females: 5.5–13.5 mm; males: 7.5–14.5 mm.

Host. Bembix cinerea Handlirsch (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) (Krombein 1958); Trypoxylon politum (Say) (= albitarse Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) (Fattig 1943); and Nomia melanderi melanderi Cockerell (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) (Krombein 1958).

Distribution. This is a widespread species, being found from Florida north to Massachusetts west to Arizona and British Columbia, Canada. The species is also recorded from Tamaulipas, Mexico. Material examined. Type material. Holotypes: Mutilla zella, USA, New Jersey, [Gloucester Co.], Wenonah, 1Ƥ, 28.VII, F. Haimbach (USNM); Pycnomutilla harmoniiformis, USA, Connecticut, [New London Co.], Lyme, 13, 31.VII.1901, A.B. Champlain (USNM); Dasymutilla errans, USA, Texas, [Cameron Co.], Brownsville, 1Ƥ, 30.VIII.1895, C.H.T. Townsend (USNM); D. bosquensis, USA, Texas, Bosque Co., Waco, 1Ƥ (USNM); D. ferrugatella, USA, Pennsylvania, 1Ƥ (USNM); D. coloradella, USA, Colorado, [Boulder Co.], Boulder, 1Ƥ, S.A. Rohwer (USNM); D. coloradella virginica, USA, Virginia, [Shenandoah Co.], Woodstock, 1Ƥ, F.C. Pratt (USNM); D. coloradella kamploopsensis, CANADA, British Columbia, Kamploops, 1Ƥ, Wickham (USNM); D. texensis, USA, Texas, 1Ƥ (USNM); D. mesillae, Ƥ, USA, New Mexico, 1Ƥ, T.D.A. Cockerell (USNM); D. carolina, USA, South Carolina, [Richland Co.], Columbia, 1Ƥ, G.F. Atkins (USNM); D. columbiana, CANADA, British Columbia, Nicola, 13, 3.VIII.1923, E.R. Buckell (CNCI). Lectotypes: M. vesta, USA, Colorado Territory, 1Ƥ (ANSP); M. sappho, USA, Georgia, 1Ƥ (ANSP); M. agenor, USA, Illinois, [Pima Co.], Algonquin, 13, 14.VIII.1916, Nason (ANSP); Paralectotypes: M. vesta, USA, Colorado Territory, 7Ƥ (ANSP); M. sappho, USA: Florida: 1Ƥ (ANSP); [Palm Beach Co.], Capron, Lake Worth, 1Ƥ, III, Slosson (ANSP); M. agenor, CANADA, British Columbia, 13 (ANSP). Other material. CANADA: Alberta: Lethbridge, 1Ƥ13, IX.1921, H.L. Seamans (CNCI); British Columbia: Oliver, 13, 17.VIII.1923 (CNCI); USA: Arizona: Apache Co., 8.7 mi N Navajo, 1Ƥ, 24.VII.1972, M.E. Cazier (ASUT); Florida: Alachua Co.: Austin Carey Forest, 73, 10.IX.1975, G.B. Fairchild (D. archboldi sensu Manley, UCDC), Gainesville, 13, 28.VIII.1960, P.N. Marsh (D. archboldi sensu Manley, UCDC); Brevard Co., Cocoa, 43, VIII.1914, R.M. Bohart (D. archboldi sensu Manley, UCDC); Highlands Co.: Archbold Biological Station, various dates and collectors: 23 (D. archboldi sensu Manley,, UCDC); Okaloosa Co., Rest Area on I-10, 1 Ƥ, 13.VI.2009, K.A. Williams (EMUS); Orange Co., University of Central Florida campus, 4Ƥ, 17.VI.2009, K.A. Williams & S. Kelly (EMUS); Illinois, Jackson Co., Island Road, Grand Tower Island, 1Ƥ, 17.IX.2006, C. Grinter (EMUS); Kansas, Morton Co., Cimarron National Grassland, 131Ƥ, 7.VI.2009, K.A. Williams (EMUS); Massachusetts: Plymouth Co., Myles Standish State Forest, 10 km S Plymouth, 1Ƥ, 10.VII.2009, K.A. Williams (EMUS); Nebraska, Custer Co., 3 km NNE Oconto, 13, 10–27.VIII.2001, M. Metz & M. Hauser (EMUS); Nebraska: Arthur Co., 2 km NE Arthur, 83, 29.VII.2012, M.C. Orr (EMUS); Cherry Co., 1.5 km WSW Merritt Dam, 4Ƥ43, 29.VII.2012, M.C. Orr (EMUS); Morrill Co., 1.5 km ESE Chimney Rock, 1Ƥ73, 27.VII.2012, M.C. Orr (EMUS); Thomas Co., 8 km W Thedward, 13, 30.VII.2012, M.C. Orr (EMUS); New Mexico: Hidalgo Co., 7 mi S Animas, 13, 23.VIII.2008, J.S. Ascher (AMNH); San Juan Co., 8.7 mi N Navajo, 1Ƥ 13, 6.VII /1972, S. Dombrosky (ASUT); New Mexico, Doña Ana Co., 1 mi E San Miguel, 25.VI.1970, M.E. Cazier (ASUT); San Juan Co., 8.7 mi N Navajo, 23, 24.VII.1972, M.A. Cazier (ASUT); North Dakota, Richland Co., 15 km N Walcott, 13, 18.VIII.1964, J.R. Powers (EMUS; CASC); South Dakota, Lawrence Co., Mirror Lakes, near McNenny Fish Hatchery, 26.VIII.1996, Baumann & Huntsman (EMUS); Texas: Bell Co., Winkler Park, 20 km N Belton, 4Ƥ, 9.VI.2009, K.A. Williams (EMUS); Brazos Co., Lick Creek Park, 6 km SE College Station, 16Ƥ23, 11.VI.2009, K.A. Williams (EMUS); Brewster Co., Big Bend National Park, Santa Elena Canyon, 2Ƥ23, 22.IV.1953, B.J. Anderson (EMUS); Leon Co., 8 km N Flynn, Road 39, 1Ƥ, 10.VI.2009, K.A. Williams (EMUS); Potter Co., Red River on Hwy 287, 25 km N Amarillo, 8Ƥ, 7.VI.2009, K.A. Williams (EMUS); Utah: San Juan Co., Bluff, 23, 14.VII.1967, J.M. Davidson, J.H. Davidson, & M.A. Cazier (ASUT); Wyoming: Platte Co., Guernsey, 1Ƥ23, 6.VIII.2002, Williams (EMUS); Sweetwater Co., Killpecker Dunes, 24 km ESE Eden, 1Ƥ13, 24.VII.2012, M.C. Orr (EMUS). Over 1500 additional specimens from across the range of this species (USA: AL, AR, AZ, CO, DC, FL, GA, ID, IN, LA, KS, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OH, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WY; CANADA: AB, BC, ON) were examined (AMNH, CASC, CSCA, CISC, CUIC, DGMC, EMUS, UCDC, UMSP).

Remarks. Our phylogenetic results recover D. vesta nested within a clade that includes the entirety of the D. monticola species-group (Fig. 72, 73). As such, we consider D. vesta a member of the D. monticola speciesgroup, making it the most widespread and commonly collected species in this group. There is significant variation in coloration, most readily noticed in the mesosomal and metasomal integument of males and in the tergal setae of females.

Prior to this publication, no inferences were made concerning the relation of this widespread and polymorphic species to other species-groups. The absence of gray setae on the apical terga of males and absence of propodeal modifications of females prohibited past authors from associating this species with the D. monticola species-group. There are similarities between D. vesta and selected members of the D. monticola species-group, though. In females, there is a well-defined scutellar scale without any transverse carinae situated anterior to the scale; this trait is shared by D. vesta, D. archboldi, D. arenneronea, D. macilenta, and D. radkei. In males, the mesoscutum is posterolaterally swollen and the tegulae are densely punctate, both traits shared by D. vesta, D. birkmani, and D. monticola.