Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon, California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California

Abstract

The diversity of nocturnal velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) at the Philip L. Boyd Deep Canyon Desert Research Center of southern California is investigated. Thirty-five species are found to inhabit areas on and around the canyon. Odontophotopsis hammetti, Sphaeropthalma chandleri, S. fergusoni, and S. mankelli are described as new species. Odontophotopsis hammetti and S. mankelli are only known from Deep Canyon. Sphaeropthalma chandleri and S. fergusoni also are known from Painted Canyon located in the Mecca Hills on east the side of the Coachella Valley and from Corn Springs located east of the Coachella Valley in the Chuckwalla Mountains, respectively. The females of too few of the species are known, so only the males are treated. A key is provided for the males. A new species-group, the S. fergusoni species-group is described to house S. fergusoni and the new species S. arnalduri, which is an apterous male described from Owens Lake Valley. Similarities between the fauna of Deep Canyon and the Algodones Sand Dunes are discussed.