Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 5311 No. 2: 29 Jun. 2023
Type: Article
Published: 2023-06-29
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5311.2.3
Page range: 203-231
Abstract views: 308
PDF downloaded: 21

Sex-association experiments reveal the true identity of Physetopoda lampedusia (Invrea, 1957) (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae, Smicromyrmini)

MNHNC – Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência; Universidade de Lisboa; 1250-102 Lisboa; Portugal cE3c – Centre for Ecology; Evolution and Environmental Change; Faculdade de Ciências; Universidade de Lisboa; 1749-016 Lisboa; Portugal
Hymenoptera biodiversity Ephutomma montarcense mating behaviour mutillid wasps Portugal sex association Smicromyrme negrei synonymy velvet ants

Abstract

Arthropod biodiversity is still insufficiently known in large areas of Europe, such as the Iberian Peninsula, regarding several insect groups. Mutillid wasps (Mutillidae), markedly sexually dimorphic ectoparasitic species, are poorly known Hymenoptera, with a number of species awaiting formal description and others known only from one sex. Sexual associations have been historically difficult to establish for most mutillid wasp species; in an European context, the species in tribe Smicromyrmini, particularly in the genera Smicromyrme Thomson, 1870 and Physetopoda Schuster, 1949, have presented the biggest challenges. In this paper, the hitherto unknown male of Physetopoda lampedusia (Invrea, 1957) is recognized as Ephutomma montarcense ((Mercet MS.) Giner Marí, 1944), with the former name falling into synonymy. A total of 63 females identified as P. lampedusia and 35 males identified as E. montarcense were collected in Portugal from 1999–2022. The correct sex association was confirmed through pairing experiments in captivity and is supported by circumstantial field observations in situ. Redescriptions of both male and female, as well as behavioural notes, are presented. Ephutomma montarcense is new for Portugal and its distribution is thus extended to Lampedusa Island (Italy) and Morocco, where it had been recorded as P. lampedusia, with Ephutomma representing a new genus for these three countries. The reliability of the method used, as well as the generic position and authorship of the species are briefly discussed.

 

References

  1. Amini, A., Lelej, A.S., Sadeghi, H. & Karimi, J. (2014) First record of the velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) reared from puparia of the ber fruit fly Carpomya vesuviana Costa (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Iran. Zootaxa, 3861 (6), 585–590. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3861.6.5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3861.6.5
  2. André, E. (1899–1902) Species des Hyménoptères d’Europe et d’Algérie. Vol. 8. Mutillidae. Dubosclard, Paris, 480 pp., 15 pls. [pp. 1–64, pls. I–VIII (1899) + 65–144 (1900) + 145–304 (1901) + 305–478 (1902) , pls. IX–XV (unknown date) ].
  3. André, E. (1903) Mutillides nouveaux ou imparfaitement connus de divers pays. Annales de la Société entomologique de France, 72, 417–459.
  4. Arnone, M. & Romano, M. (1995) Arthropoda di Lampedusa, Linosa e Pantelleria (Canale di Sicilia, Mar Mediterraneo). Hymenoptera Mutillidae, Apterogynidae. Il Naturalista Siciliano, 19 (Supplement), 739–752.
  5. Ashmead, W.H. (1899) Superfamilies in the Hymenoptera and generic synopses of the families Thynnidae, Myrmosidae, and Mutillidae. Journal of the New York Entomological Society, 7, 45–60.
  6. Baldock, D. (2014) A provisional list of the wasps and bees of Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain (Hymenoptera aculeata: Chrysidoidea, Scolioidea, Vespoidea, Apoidea). Zeitschrift für Entomology, 35 (16), 333–404.
  7. Baldock, D., Castro, L., Cross, I., Schmid-Egger, Ch., Smit, J. & Wood, T.J. (2020) The Vespiform Wasps of Portugal (Hymenoptera: Scolioidea, Tiphioidea, Pompiloidea & Vespoidea). Monografías Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa, 14, 1–74.
  8. Bartholomay, P.R., Waldren, G.C. & Oliveira, M.L. (2017) Observation of a mixed-sex, mixed-species aggregation of velvet ants, genus Timulla Ashmead, 1899 (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) in the Brazilian Amazon, Roraima, with a new synonymy. Zootaxa, 4362 (1), 135–140. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4362.1.8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4362.1.8
  9. Bischoff, H. (1920–1921) Monographie der Mutilliden Afrikas. Archiv für Naturgeschichte, 86A (1–3) & 86A (4–5), 1–480 (1920) & 481–830 (1921).
  10. Blake, C.A. (1871) Synopsis of the Mutillidae of North America. Transactions of the American Entomological Society, 3, 217–265. https://doi.org/10.2307/25076249 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/25076249
  11. Brothers, D.J. (1972) Biology and immature stages of Pseudomethoca f. frigida, with notes on other species (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae). University of Kansas Science Bulletin, 50, 1–38.
  12. Brothers, D.J. (1983) Identity and classification of Physetopoda, Chaetotilla and Paramyrme (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society, 56 (6), 441–445.
  13. Brothers, D.J. (1989) Alternative life-history styles of mutillid wasps (Insecta, Hymenoptera). In: Bruton, M.N. (Ed.), Alternative Life-History Styles of Animals, 1989, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecth, pp. 279–291. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2605-9_14 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2605-9_14
  14. Brothers, D.J. & Lelej, A.S. (2017) Phylogeny and higher classification of Mutillidae (Hymenoptera) based on morphological reanalyses. Journal of Hymenoptera Research, 60, 1–97. https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.60.20091 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.60.20091
  15. Cresson, E.T. (1865) Descriptions of some new species of Mutilla from California. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Philadelphia, 4, 385–390.
  16. Dalla Torre, C.G. de (1897) Catalogus Hymenopterorum hucusque Descriptorum Systematicus et Synonimicus. Volumen VIII: Fossores (Sphegidae). Guilelmi Engelmann, Lipsiae [Leipzig], (4) + viii + 750 pp.
  17. du Buysson, R. (1905) Monographie des Guêpes ou Vespa (suite). Annales de la Société entomologique de France, 73 (1904), 485–556.
  18. Ferguson, W.E. (1962) Biological characteristics of the mutillid subgenus Photopsis Blake and their systematic values (Hymenoptera). University of California Publications in Entomology, 27 (1), 1–92.
  19. Fox, W.J. (1899) The North American Mutillidae. Transactions of the American Entomological Society, 25, 219–292.
  20. Giner Marí, J. (1944) Himenópteros de España: Fams. Apterogynidae y Mutillidae. Instituto Español de Entomologia, Madrid, 124 pp.
  21. Goulet, H. & Huber, J.T. (Eds.) (1993) Hymenoptera of the World: an identification guide to families. Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, 668 pp.
  22. Harris, R.A. (1979) A glossary of surface sculpturing. Occasional Papers in Entomology, 28, 1–31.
  23. International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature [ICZN] (1999) International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Fourth Edition. ITZN, London, xxx + 306 pp.
  24. Invrea, F. (1951) Mutillidi nuovi o notevoli del Bacino Mediterraneo (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae). II Parte. Bollettino della Società entomologica italiana, 81 (3–4), 34–43.
  25. Invrea, F. (1955) Imenotteri raccolti da L. Ceresa in Sardegna. II Altri reperti di Mutillidi e Mirmosidi con quattro nuove specie. Atti della Societá Italiana di Scienze Naturali e del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale in Milano, 94 (3–4), 233–254.
  26. Invrea, F. (1957a) Nota preliminare sui Mutillidi e Crisidi dell’Isola di Lampedusa (Hymenoptera). Bollettino della Società Entomologica Italiana, 87 (1–2), 14–17.
  27. Invrea, F. (1957b) Mutillidi nuovi o notevoli del Bacino Mediterraneo (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae). V Nota. Memorie della Società Entomologica Italiana, 36 (2), 189–200.
  28. Invrea, F. (1964) Mutillidae—Myrmosidae. Fauna d’Italia. Vol. 5. Edizioni Calderini, Bologna, xii + 302 + (1) pp., 95 figs.
  29. Kerzhner, I.M. (2008) Authorship of scientific (Latin) names of animals. Entomological Review, 88 (6), 629–639. https://doi.org/10.1134/S0013873808060018 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0013873808060018
  30. Klug, J.C.F. (1829) Symbolae physicae seu icones et descriptiones insectorum quae in itinere per Africam borealem et Asiam occid. F.G. Hemprich et C.H. Ehrenberg studio novae aut illustratae redierunt. Hymenoptera. Decas 1 (genus Mutilla et Apterogyna). Venditur a Mittlero, Berolini, pp. 15–21, tabs. 4 + 5.
  31. Klug, J.C.F. (1835) Description de Mutilles. In: Waltl, J., Reise durch Tirol, Oberitalien und Piemont nach dem sudlichen Spanien. Zweiter Theil. Verlag der Pustetśchen Buchhandlung (J.F. Winkler), Passau, pp. 91–95.
  32. Latreille, P.A. (1792) Mutilles, Découvertes en France. Actes de la Société d’Histoire Naturelle de Paris, 1, 5–12.
  33. Lelej, A.S. (1976) Addition to the fauna of velvet ants of Mongolia (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae). Insects of Mongolia, 4, 268–281. [in Russian]
  34. Lelej, A.S. (1977) New data on the velvet-ant fauna of Mongolia (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae). Insects of Mongolia, 5, 526–536. [in Russian]
  35. Lelej, A.S. (1984a) New and little-known species of velvet ants of the genus Smicromyrme Thomson (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae). In: Savtshenko, E.N. (Ed.), Taxonomy and Zoogeography of Insects. Naukova Dumka, Kiev, pp. 79–89, 4 pls. [in Russian]
  36. Lelej, A.S. (1984b) The velvet ants of the genus Paramyrme (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae). In: Lehr, P.A. (Ed.), Systematica Nasekomykh Dalnego Vostoka. [Systematics of the insects of the Far East]. DVNC AN SSR, Vladivostok, pp. 101–115. [in Russian]
  37. Lelej, A.S. (1985) Osy-nemki (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae) fauny SSSR i sopredelnykh stran [The velvet ants (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae) of the USSR and neighboring countries]. Nauka, Leningrad, 268 pp., 64 tabs. [in Russian]
  38. Lelej, A.S. (2002) Catalogue of the Mutillidae (Hymenoptera) of the Palaearctic region. Dalnauka, Vladivostok, 171 pp.
  39. Lelej, A.S. & Brothers, D. (2008) The genus-group names of Mutillidae (Hymenoptera) and their type species, with a new genus, new name, new synonymies, new combinations and lectotypifications. Zootaxa, 1889 (1), 1–79. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1889.1.1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1889.1.1
  40. Lelej, A.S. & Kabakov, O.N. (1980) [On Bradynobaenidae and Mutillidae (Hymenoptera) of Afghanistan]. Entomologicheskoe Obozrenie, 59 (1), 181–196, 14 figs. [in Russian, English translation in Entomological Review, 59, 141–156]
  41. Lelej, A.S., Ullah, M. & Mahmood, K. (2007) Additions to the knowledge of the Mutillidae (Hymenoptera) of Pakistan. Zootaxa, 1444 (1), 53–60. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1444.1.4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1444.1.4
  42. Lelej, A.S. & Williams, K.A. (2023) Review of the tribe Smicromyrmini Bischoff, 1920 (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Zootaxa, 5231 (2), 101–140. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5231.2.1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5231.2.1
  43. Linnaeus, C. (1758) Systema Naturae per Regna Tria Naturae, secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis. Tomus I. Editio Decima Reformata. Laurentii Salvii, Holmiae [Stockholm], (4) + 823 + (5) pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.542 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.542
  44. Linnaeus, C. (1767) Systema naturae per regna tria naturae: secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tome 1. Pt. 2. 12th Edition. Laurentii Salvii, Holmiae [Stockholm], pp. 533–1327. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.156772 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.156772
  45. Lo Cascio, P. (2015) Worldwide checklist of the island mutillid wasps (Hymenoptera Mutillidae). Biodiversity Journal, 6 (2), 529–592.
  46. Lucas, H. (1848) Exploration Scientifique de l’Algérie pendant des Années 1840, 1841, 1842. Sciences Physiques, Zoologie, III. Histoire Naturelle des Animaux Articulés, Troisieme Partie, Insectes & Zoologie, IV. Histoire Naturelle des Animaux Articulés, Atlas. Imprimerie Nationale, Paris, (6) + 527 pp. & 122 pp.
  47. Magretti, P. (1892) Di alcune specie d’Imenotteri raccolte dall’ Ing. L. Bricchetti Robecchi nel paese dei Somali. Annali del Museo civico di storia naturale di Genova, Series 2, 10, 950–960.
  48. Manley, D.G. (1977) Notes on the courtship and mating of Dasymutilla Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) in California. The Southwestern Naturalist, 21 (4), 552–554.
  49. Manley, D.G. & Pitts, J.P. (2007) Tropical and subtropical velvet ants of the genus Dasymutilla Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) with descriptions of 45 new species. Zootaxa, 1487 (1), 1–128. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1487.1.1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1487.1.1
  50. Matias, R. (2022) Notes on the occurrence of the Iberian endemic Dasylabris egregia (Klug, 1835) (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae, Dasylabrinae) in Portugal. Graellsia, 78 (2), e172. https://doi.org/10.3989/graellsia.2022.v78.338 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3989/graellsia.2022.v78.338
  51. Mercet, R.G. (1903) Descripcion de himenopteros nuevos. Boletín de la Real Sociedad Española de Historia Natural, 3, 98–104.
  52. Mercet, R.G. (1905) Mutilidos nuevos de España. Boletín de la Real Sociedad Española de Historia Natural, 5, 488–495.
  53. Mickel, C.E. (1928) Biological and taxonomic investigations on the mutillid wasps. Bulletin of the United States National Museum, 143, 1–351. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.03629236.143.1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5479/si.03629236.143.1
  54. Mingo, E. & Compte, A. (1963) Los Scolioidea de Baleares (Hymenoptera). Boletín de la Real Sociedad Española de Historia Natural (B), 61, 69–96.
  55. Mitroiu, M., Noyes, J., Cetkovic, A., Nonveiller, G., Radchenko, A., Polaszek, A., Ronquist, F., Forshage, M., Pagliano, G., Gusenleitner, J., Bartalucci, M., Olmi, M., Fusu, L., Madl, M., Johnson, N., Jansta, P., Wahis, R., Soon, V., Rosa, P., Osten, T., Barbier, Y. & de Jong, Y. (2015) Fauna Europaea: Hymenoptera—Apocrita (excl. Ichneumonoidea). Biodiversity Data Journal, 3, e4186. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.3.e4186 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.3.e4186
  56. Olivier, A.G. (1811) Encyclopédie méthodique. Histoire naturelle. Insectes. Vol. 8. H. Agasse, Paris, 722 pp.
  57. O’Toole, C. (1975) The systematics of Timulla oculata (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae). Zoologica Scripta, 4 (5–6), 229–251. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1463-6409.1975.tb00733.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1463-6409.1975.tb00733.x
  58. Ovchinnikov, S.V. (2002) Materials to the fauna of velvet ants (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae) of Kyrghizia. Entomological Investigations in Kyrgystan, 22, 79–104. [in Russian]
  59. Pallas, P.S. (1773) Reisen durch verschiedene Provinzen des Russischen Reichs, in den Jahren 1768–1774. Vol. 2 (2). Kayserlichen Academie der Wissenschaften, St. Petersburg, (12) + 744 pp.
  60. Pagliano, G. (2009) Physetopoda rameli, nuova specie di Mutillidae di Grecia (Hymenoptera). Bollettino della Società entomologica italiana, 141 (3), 179–186.
  61. Pagliano, G. (2012 [2011]) Ricerche imenotterologiche nell’isola Lampedusa con descrizione di una nuova specie di Mutillide (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Fragmenta entomologica, Roma, 43 (2), 215–224. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/fe.2011.47
  62. Pagliano, G. & Agnoli, G.L. (2018) Note sugli Imenotteri Mutillidi dell’Italia meridionale con chiave dicotomica dei maschi delle specie mediterranee di Physetopoda Schuster, 1949 (Hymenoptera, Vespoidea: Mutillidae). Bollettino della Società entomologica italiana, 150 (3), 127–137. https://doi.org/10.4081/BollettinoSEI.2018.127 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/BollettinoSEI.2018.127
  63. Pagliano, G., Brothers, D.J., Cambra, R., Lelej, A.S., Lo Cascio, P., Palmerini, M.M., Scaramozzino, P.L., Williams, K.A. & Romano, M. (2020 [“2018”]) Checklist of names in Mutillidae (Hymenoptera), with illustrations of selected species. Bolletino del Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali, 36 (1–2), 5–427.
  64. Pagliano, G. & Strumia, F. (2007) Contributo alla conoscenza dei Mutillidae italiani (Hymenoptera, Scolioidea). Bollettino del Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali, Torino, 24 (1), 25–110.
  65. Parejo-Pulido, D., Pérez-Gómez, Á., Obregón, R. & París, M. (2023) Catálogo de los mutílidos (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) de la provincia de Cádiz (Andalucía, España). Revista de la Sociedad Gaditana de Historia Natural, 17 (Suplemento), 1–28.
  66. Petersen, B. (1988) The Palaearctic Mutillidae of I. C. Fabricius and some related material (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Aculeata). Steenstrupia, 14 (6), 129–224.
  67. Radoszkowski, O. (1877) Chrysidiformis, Mutillidae et Sphegidae. Voyage au Turkestan d’Alexis Fedtschenko, Series 14, 2 (5), 1–87. [in Russian]
  68. Radoszkowski, O. (1885) Revision des armures copulatrices des mâles de la famille de Mutillides. Horae Societatis Entomologicae Rossicae, 19, 3–49, 9 pls.
  69. Schuster, R.M. (1949) Contributions toward a monograph of the Mutillidae of the Neotropical Region. III. A key to the subfamilies represented and descriptions of several new genera (Hymenoptera). Entomologica Americana, New Series, 29 (3–4), 59–140.
  70. Sichel, J. & Radoszkowsky, O. (1869–1870) Essai d’une monographie des Mutilles de l’ancient continent. Horae Societatis Entomologicae Rossicae, 6, 139–309, pls. VI–XI. [6 (3): 139–172 (1869), 6 (4): 173–309, pls. 6–11 (1870)]
  71. Skorikov, A.S. (1935) Zur Mutilliden-Fauna Zentralasiens. Trudy Tadzhikskoi Basy Akademii Nauk SSSR [Tajik Base of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR], 5, 257–349, 7 pls. [in Russian]
  72. Smith, F. (1855) Catalogue of hymenopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Part III. Mutillidae and Pompilidae. British Museum, London, 206 pp.
  73. Spinola, M. (1841) Hyménoptères recueillis à Cayenne en 1839 par M. Leprieur, pharmacien de la Marine Royale. Annales de la Société entomologique de France, 10, 85–149.
  74. Suárez, F.J. (1956) Mutílidos de la provincia de Almería II. Una nueva Smicromyrme almeriense (Hym Mutillidae). Archivos del Instituto de Aclimatación, Almería, 5, 53–56.
  75. Suárez, F.J. (1959) Mutílidos españoles nuevos o interesantes de la colección del Instituto Español de Entomología. Eos, 35, 97–112.
  76. Suárez, F.J. (1965a) Datos preliminares al estudio de los mutílidos ibéricos. Eos, 40, 569–586.
  77. Suárez, F.J. (1965b) Nota sinonimica preliminar y propuesta del nombre genérico Eremomyrme nom. nov. (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae). Memorie della Società Entomologica Italiana, 44, 51–52.
  78. Suárez, F.J. (1974) Nuevas especies de Mutilidos recogidos por la Mision del Dr. Z. Kaszab en Mongolia, durante las campañas de 1963 a 1968 (Hymenoptera: Myrmosidae y Mutillidae). Archivos del Instituto de Aclimatación, Almería, 19, 5–19.
  79. Swederus, N.S. (1787) Fortsåttning af Beskrifningen på 50 nya Species af Insecter. Kungliga Svenska Vetenskapsademiens Handlingar, 8, 276–290.
  80. Thomson, C.G. (1870) Öfversigt af Sveriges rofsteklar. Opuscula Entomologica, 2, 202–251.
  81. Thomson, C.G. (1869) Öfversigt af Sveriges Vespariae. Opuscula Entomologica, 1, 78–82. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.8248 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.8248
  82. Turner, R.E. (1911) New Hymenoptera from Ceylon. Mutillidae and Scoliidae. Spolia zeylanica, 7, 141–159.
  83. VanderSal-Jensen, N.D., Crews, S.C. & Gillespie, R.G. (2016) Is love in the air or at first sight? Mate finding cues used by sympatric male velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Invertebrate Biology, 135 (3), 200–210. https://doi.org/10.1111/ivb.12128 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ivb.12128
  84. Vieira, L.C., Oliveira, N.G., Brewster, C.C. & Gayubo, S.F. (2013) Faunistic inventory of Spheciformes wasps at three protected areas in Portugal. Journal of Insect Science, 13 (113), 1–24. Available from: http://www.insectscience.org/13.113 https://doi.org/10.1673/031.013.11301 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1673/031.013.11301
  85. Waldren, G.C., Roberts, J.D. & Pitts, J.P. (2020) Phoretic copulation in the velvet ant Sphaeropthalma pensylvanica (Lepeletier) (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae): a novel behavior for Sphaeropthalminae with a synthesis of mating strategies in Mutillidae. Journal of Hymenoptera Research, 78, 69–89. https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.78.55762 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.78.55762