Acanthomutilla Nonveiller, 1995b

Lelej, Arkady S. & Brothers, Denis J., 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), pp. 1-79 : 5

Acanthomutilla Nonveiller, 1995b (as subgenus of Pristomutilla Ashmead, 1903 ). Entomofauna 16(5): 34 (in key); 106 (description). Female, male.

Gender. Feminine.

Type species. Pristomutilla curtispinosa Bischoff, 1921 (female), by original designation (junior subjec- tive synonym of Lophotilla comparanda Bischoff, 1920 (male), see below).

Taxonomic history. Senior subjective synonym of Peringueyella Nonveiller & Ć etković, 1995 and Peringeyotilla Nonveiller & Ć etković, 1997. In view of the distinctiveness of the type species, spe- cially the male which has already been recognised at the generic level, we hereby raise Acantho- mutilla to generic status. New status. Valid generic name.

Sex association. Based on specimens (in the South African Museum) collected in copula, the male of the type species is Lophotilla makalanga Bischoff, 1920: 310 (causing P. curtispinosa to fall as a junior subjective synonym of it). In addition, Lophotilla comparanda Bischoff, 1920: 309 is another syn- onym, based on comparison with a series of specimens from various localities, which show variation in several characters used by Bischoff to distinguish these taxa. As “first reviser”, DJB hereby desig- nates Lophotilla makalanga as a junior subjective synonym of Lophotilla comparanda , primarily because the latter is the type species of Peringueyella Nonveiller & Ć etković, 1995 and Peringeyotilla Nonveiller & Ć etković, 1997. New synonymies.

Distribution. Afrotropical.