Odontophotopsis Viereck
Creators: name: Pitts, James P.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2007
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Mutillidae
Odontophotopsis

description: Key to the Odontophotopsis Viereck species-groups
(modified from Schuster 1958)
Mandibular morphology is heavily relied upon, but be advised that the apical mandibular teeth may be worn down and indistinct in older individuals.
1. Clypeus produced into a lobe greatly extending over and beyond mandibles with apex bent dorsally (Figs. 32, 33). Mandible not or barely dentate or excised ventrally (Fig. 32). Mesosternal processes absent ................................................................................................ O. sonora species-group (p. 20)
- Clypeus not greatly covering mandibles, or: mandible dentate or excised ventrally (e.g., Fig. 52), or: mesosternal processes present (only rarely absent) ............................................................................ 2
2 (1). Middle and hind trochanters dentate along internal margin (Fig. 1). Mesosternum armed, on each side of midline, with about five small isolated teeth; teeth combining to form oval pattern on mesosternum. Felt line of S2 absent .......................................................... O. cockerelli species-group (p. 7)
- Trochanters unarmed. Mesosternum on each side usually with a single tooth or swollen area, in a few species with two to three isolated teeth, rarely lacking teeth (e.g., Figs. 15, 19, 24, 29, 36–38), or: felt line of S2 present ................................................................................................................................. 3
3 (2). Felt line of S2 absent (Fig. 59). Mesosternum with only one pair of teeth (sometimes, in species like O. serca, a small aspiration is present posterior to the sternal tooth and is less than 0.2X the height of the main tooth and is not considered compound) ................................................................................ 4
- Felt line of S2 of abdomen present (Fig. 60), although in some species reduced to minute tufts or cluster of micropunctures, or: mesosternal processes compound, more than one pair of tubercles present (e.g., Figs. 15, 19, 24, 29, 36–38) ........................................................................................... 6
4 (3). Pygidium dull and granulate, sometimes defined lateral with carina. Head quadrate, parallel-sided posterior to eyes (Fig. 62). Mesosternal processes large, closer together than height of process, conical and tapering apically. F1 as long as F2. Metasternum tridentate ..................................................... ............................................................................. O. venusta species-group (in part; revised in part 2)
- Pygidium undefined and polished, rarely appearing obscurely granulate and somewhat dull. Head rounded posterior to eyes, temples rounded (e.g., Figs. 48, 57, 61). Mesosternal processes small, often minute or obscure, distance between processes equal to or greater than height of process. F1 shorter than F2, or: metasternum bidentate or indistinctly quadridentate .......................................... 5
5 (4). Mandible weakly excised and armed ventrally with distal 0.5X nearly evenly continuous with basal 0.5X. Mandible of subequal width throughout, except at minute mandibular tooth. Metasternum tridentate. First metasomal segment sessile with second segment ............................................................ ....................................................................................... O. anomala species-group (revised in part 2)
- Mandible with ventral excision and tooth moderate to large. Mandible obviously with ventral contour interrupted. Metasternum bidentate or indistinctly quadridentate. First metasomal segment petiolate with second segment ................................................... O. serca species-group (revised in part 2)
6 (3). Stigma ~0.5X length of elongate marginal cell measured along costa (Fig. 39). Petiole extremely slender and elongate with length ~2.0–2.5X apical width. Metasoma blackish contrasting with head and mesosoma. Entire anterior 0.5X of mesopleuron devoid of coarse sculpture. Metasoma, from distal fourth of T2 to apex, with fine punctation bearing short, decumbent vestiture. Antennal scrobe strongly carinate above ................................................................ O. tenuiptera species-group (p. 22)
- Stigma at least 0.6X length of marginal cell measured along costa. Petiole not exceedingly elongate with length ~1.5X apical width or less, or: metasoma ferruginous, or: mesopleuron punctured virtually throughout, or: metasoma without pronounced, short, decumbent vestiture, or: antennal scrobe weakly carinate or ecarinate above .................................................................................................... 7
7 (6). Middle coxa armed with prominent hyaline process along internal margin (Fig. 5, 7)......................... .......................................................................................................... O. dentifera species-group (p. 8)
- Middle coxa lacking tooth or process................................................................................................. 8
8 (7). Mandible with dorsal tooth large, being separated by deep, wide sinus from lower portion of mandibular apex; mandibular apex appears biramose (Fig. 27). Entire mandible strongly dorsoventrally dilated, narrow at ventral excision and again strongly dilated distally, distal width 2.5–3.0X width at excision (Fig. 27) .............................................................................. O. setifera species-group (p. 17)
- Mandible with dorsal tooth not widely separated from middle mandibular tooth (e.g., Fig. 13, 23, 40, 41, 51, 58), or: mandible never strongly dilated towards apex after ventral excision, distally 0.9– 1.2X as wide as at excision. ................................................................................................................ 9
9 (8). Mandible bidentate distally, usually slender and sharply carinate above and below forming sharp rim dorsally with clypeus (Figs. 51, 57, 58). Mandible with ventral margin weakly excised or very broadly, shallowly, arcuately excised; subtending tooth is sharp angulation not making mandible divisible into broad basal portion and suddenly slender distal portion (excision over 0.7X as wide as at mandibular base; e.g., Figs. 51, 58) ............................................................................................... 10
- Mandible distinctly tridentate or quadridentate at apex (sometimes middle tooth is minute, such as for O. parva and O. tapajos species-groups; if so, then mandible with broad, shallow excision ventrally; e.g., Fig. 66), or: mandible ventrally strongly excised with deep, rounded emargination that is subtended by large, rounded tooth (mandible divisible into proximal dilated portion, and suddenly slender, distal portion; at excision mandible always less 0.7X as wide as at mandibular base; e.g., Figs. 13, 23, 27) ................................................................................................................................ 11
10 (9). Mandible almost entire ventrally, weakly excised producing an angulation (Fig. 58). Ventral mandibular carina not lamellate (Fig. 58). Dorsal carina of mandible obsolete on distal 0.33 (Fig. 57, 58). Prominent median, elevated carina present on the anterior fifth of second sternum. Clypeus weakly tuberculate posteriorly, weakly concave medially, almost flat, and with anterolaterally angle tuberculate (Fig. 57). Marginal cell subequal to length of stigma ................. O. villosa species-group (p. 31)
- Mandible distinctly excised ventrally, with prominent tooth (Figs. 49, 51). Ventral mandibular carina appearing lamellate (Figs. 48, 49, 51). Dorsal carina of mandible complete (Fig. 48). Second sternum lacking anterior median carina, although swollen area may be present. Clypeus with prominent tongue-like tubercle posteromedially, concave medially, and with anterolaterally angle lacking tubercles (Figs. 48–50). Marginal cell distinctly longer than stigma ..... O. unicornis species-group (p. 26)
11 (10). Mandible broad, dilated apically, and quadridentate at apex (Fig. 68). Antennal tubercle armed with distinct conical tooth (Fig. 65). Clypeus strongly decurved, forming very deep, transverse pit with large, closely appressed mandibles. Mesosternal processes with two teeth, minute to obsolete, widely spaced. Pygidium granulate and defined laterally by carinae................................................................ .................................................. O. conifera of the O. parva species-group (in part; revised in part 2)
- Mandible not greatly dilated, tridentate, if mandibles quadridentate, then mesosternal processes quadridentate (two large teeth present anteromedially and a fin-shaped lamella situated just anterior to each mesocoxa; O. venusta), and: antennal tubercle unarmed, or: clypeus not wholly hidden anteriorly by closed mandibles, forming shallow or moderately deep basin, or: mesosternal teeth obvious, very large, or: pygidium polished and undefined laterally by carinae....................................... 12
12 (11). Mandible ventrally either weakly excised, or very broadly and shallowly excised, with subtending tooth sharp angulation (Fig. 66; mandible not divisible into broad basal portion and suddenly slender
distal portion; at excision always over 0.7X as wide as at ventral tooth). Mesosternum armed with single pair of small processes, separated by distance equal to 2– 4 X their length, much farther apart than width of anterior ocellus; teeth often vestigial or rarely absent. Pygidium polished and undefined laterally ........................................................................... O. tapajos species-group (revised in part 2) - Mandible ventrally strongly excised with deep, rounded emargination that is subtended by large, rounded tooth (mandible divisible into proximal dilated portion, and suddenly slender, distal portion) or: mesosternal processes various, sometimes vestigial or rarely absent, if with single pair of small processes, then processes are approximate or subapproximate anteriomedially, or: pygidium dull, granulose, subdefined or defined by lateral carinae........................................................................... 13
13 (12). Pygidium dull, granulose, subdefined to defined by lateral carinae. Mandible usually ventrally weakly excised or very broadly, shallowly, arcuately excised with subtending tooth sharp angulation (Fig. 64). Clypeus not tuberculate posteromedially .......................................................................... 14
- Pygidium polished, polished, glabrous, and lacking lateral carinae, or: mandible ventrally strongly excised with deep, rounded emargination that is subtended by large, rounded tooth (Figs. 13, 18, 23; mandible divisible into proximal dilated portion, and suddenly slender, distal portion), or: clypeus tuberculate posteromedially .............................................................................................................. 15
14 (13). Metasternum tridentate. Felt line of S2 reduced to small vestigial tufts. Petiole weakly punctured and nearly sessile with second segment. Head quadrate and parallel posterior to eyes (e.g., Fig. 62) ....... ............................................................................. O. venusta species-group (in part; revised in part 2)
- Metasternum bidentate. Felt line of S2 well developed, obvious (more than 0.15X length of those of tergum). Petiole strongly punctured and distinctly nodose and petiolate with second segment. Head convergent and rounded posterior to eyes (Fig. 61) O. parva species-group (in part; revised in part 2)
15 (13). Mesosternum armed with compound processes (sometimes, in species like O. melicausa, a small aspiration is present posterior to sternal tooth and is less than 0.2X the height of main tooth and is not considered compound sternal process): either each side with two approximate or distant, equal or subequal teeth, or with three distinct equal teeth in two rows, which are obviously of separate origin on mesosternum, not processes of common tooth (Figs. 15, 19, 24) ................................................ 16
- Mesosternum armed with single pair of simple teeth (these are rarely emarginate or bilobed at apex, rarely with one or two minute asperations posterior to teeth), never with 2–3 equal-sized teeth on each side of mesosternum ................................................................................................................. 19
16 (15). Mandible not dorsoventrally dilated (Fig. 67). Marginal cell small, length measured along costa less than 1X length of stigma, usually ~0.75X length of stigma. Clypeus not depressed below mandibular rim. Mesosternum with two small, obscure, isolated teeth on each side of midline; forming squareshaped pattern ....................................................... O. quadrispinosa species-group (revised in part 2)
- Mandible dorsoventrally dilated apical to ventral excision. Marginal cell measured along costa subequal to or greater than length of stigma. Clypeus depressed below mandibular rims. Mesosternal teeth close together or forming a rhomboid-shaped pattern ............................................................. 17
17 (16). Mesosternum with 3 strong, sharp teeth, arranged on each side in row diverging from each other, teeth approximately same height (Figs. 19, 20). Antenna fuscous. Vestiture white. Cuspis cylindrical, tapering towards apex (Fig. 21) .................................................... O. hexadonta species-group (p. 14)
- Mesosternum armed on each side with 2 processes, posterior process more widely spaced than anterior processes; sometimes another much smaller tooth (<0.5X height of primary teeth) is present behind large primary tooth (Fig. 15, 24). Antenna coloration various. Vestiture coloration various, if antenna fuscous, then vestiture golden. Cuspis laterally flattened, lobe-like, not tapering towards apex (Figs. 16, 25, 26) ..................................................................................................................... 18
18 (17). Mesosternal teeth close together (Fig. 15). Mandible extraordinarily deeply excised below, decurved apical portions dilated (Fig. 13, 14). Vestiture golden. Antenna fuscous ..............................................
........................................................................................................... O. exogyra species-group (p. 11) - Mesosternal teeth on each side distant, situated in nearly square with posterior teeth being slightly further apart than anterior teeth (sometimes much smaller tooth present behind large primary tooth; Fig. 24). Mandible not contorted, distal portion not dilated (Fig. 23). Vestiture white. Antennae concolorous with body.................................................................. O. quadridentata species-group (p. 16)
19 (15). Mesoscutum with very small, widely separated punctures; interstitial region polished. Notauli complete or virtually so. Ocelli small, length 0.35–0.5X the ocellocular distance. Felt line of S2 more than 0.5X length of that of T2. Mesosternal processes small, approximate teeth ................................ ........................................................................................... O. pudica species-group (revised in part 3)
- Mesoscutum closely, contiguously, or quite coarsely punctured, appearing dull. Notauli incomplete anteriorly; present on posterior ~0.75 of mesonotum. Ocelli usually over 0.6X ocellocular distance (except for O. succinea and O. bellona, which are ~0.5X; O. bellona has a granulate pygidium; both have a densely punctate mesonotum). Felt line of S2 abbreviated, usually less than 0.3X length of that of T2. Mesosternal processes various, either approximate and large or subapproximate and small teeth............................................................................. O. melicausa species-group (revised in part 3)
description: Published as part of Pitts, James P., 2007, Revision of Odontophotopsis Viereck (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae), Part 1, with a description of a new Genus Laminatilla, pp. 1-43 in Zootaxa 1619 on pages 31-34, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.179151