Odontophotopsis sonora Schuster

Odontophotopsis sonora Schuster

Sphaeropthalma (Micromutilla) sonora Schuster, 1958. Ent. Amer. 37: 16. Male. Holotype data: Tucson, Arizona, 10 Sep 1935. Bryant (UMSP).

Diagnosis of male. This species can be recognized by the lack of a tooth on the ventral margin of the mandible, the tridentate and oblique mandibular apex, and by the clypeus being elongate and projecting over the dorsal margins of the mandibles (Fig. 30). Also, this species lacks mesosternal armature, despite its placement in the genus Odontophotopsis. The genitalia are illustrated in Figs. 20 and 21.

Female. Unknown, but will possibly be similar to the females of the O. melicausa species-group based on male morphology.

Material examined. California, Imperial Co.: Algodones Dunes: Cahuilla Ranger Sta. 10 km WSW Glamis, 4 males, 22.Sep–15.Nov.2008, E. Dreyfus (UCDC); Roadrunner Campgrnd, 10.7 km SW Glamis. 2 males, 31.May–3.Jun.2008, Museum Survey Team (UCDC). Glamis, 3mi. NW, 5 males, 15–16.Sep.1972, M.S. Wasbauer and A. Hardy (CDFA); Glamis, 5 mi SW, 1 male, 23.Jul.2005, K.A. Williams (EMUS); Glamis, 2 males, 29.May.1971, M.S. Wasbauer and A. Hardy (CDFA).

Distribution. Southern California and southwestern Arizona northward into southern Nevada.

Remarks. This species is not common and is not endemic to the dunes; it was recently moved to Odontophotopsis (Pitts, 2007), and a more thorough discussion can be found in that publication.