Sphaeropthalma mendica (Blake)

Agama mendica Blake, 1871. Amer. Ent. Soc., Trans. 3: 259. Male. Holotype data: Nevada, type no. 4551 (ANSP).

Mutilla aspasia Blake, 1879. Amer. Ent. Soc., Trans. 7: 250. Female. Holotype data: Nevada, type no. 4574 (ANSP). Photopsis nebulosus Blake, 1886. Amer. Ent. Soc., Trans. 13: 275. Male. Holotype data: Nevada, type no. 4549 (ANSP).

Diagnosis of male. The male of this species can be recognized by having mandibles that are weakly excised ventrally with a indistinct basal tooth and an apex that is tridentate and oblique (Fig. 26), the posterior margin of the head is quadrate, the mesosternum lacks processes, the second metasomal sternite has a distinct felt line, and the pygidium is granulate. The genitalia of this species (Fig. 60) are quite similar to those of S. angulifera (Fig. 53)

Diagnosis of female. The female of this species was diagnosed by Wilson and Pitts (2009).

Materials examined. California, Riverside Co.: Deep Canyon, 1 male, 2–5.Jun.2002, M.E. Irwin and F.D. Parker (EMUS), 1 male, 13. Jun.1963, 1 male, 11.Nov.1963.

Distribution. This species is widespread in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts. It is also present in the Great Basin Desert, the Colorado Plateau and the Snake River Plain.

Remarks. This species was recently resurrected from synonymy with S. unicolor (Wilson & Pitts 2009). This species occurs throughout the Coachella Valley and was referred to as S. unicolor in Pitts et al. (2009).

There is a wide array of integumental coloration in this species. Specimens range from nearly black integument to a more reddish-brown color characteristic of most nocturnal mutillids. Female integumental coloration has a similar range as the males. The setal coloration rarely varies among S. mendica specimens. Some individuals have pale orange setae on their mesosoma, but the majority has entirely white setae. All specimens have dense fringes of white plumose setae on the apical margins of the tergites. Only the light forms have been collected at Deep Canyon.