Sphaeropthalma Blake, 1871

Williams, Kevin A., 2025, Color syndrome terminology for velvet ant females (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae and Myrmosidae), Zootaxa 5684 (1), pp. 1-238 : 25-31

Sphaeropthalma Blake, 1871 —There are no functional keys to the females of this genus.

Fig. 192 — Sphaeropthalma abdominalis (Blake, 1886) : Code 1/4, length 6.2 mm, USA (NA), New Mexico, Deming (32.27 -107.76), FSCA. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA .

Fig. 193 — Sphaeropthalma amphion (Fox, 1899) : Code 1/4, length 7 mm, USA (NA), California, Meyer Canyon (34.27 -117.41), CSCA. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA .

Fig. 194 — Sphaeropthalma angulifera Schuster, 1958 : Code 1/4, length 6 mm, USA (NA), Arizona, Lime Kiln (36.70 -114.02), CSCA. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA .

Fig. 195 — Sphaeropthalma arnalduri* Pitts in Pitts et al., 2010: Code 1/4, length 10.4 mm, USA (NA), California, Owens Lake Valley (36.28 -117.99), EMUS. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA. The sex association is based on overlapping distribution and similarity of both sexes to S. blakeii (KAW pers. obs.).

Fig. 196 — Sphaeropthalma arota 1 (Cresson, 1875): Code 3/3, length 8.2 mm, Mexico ** (NA), Baja California, 57 mi East El Rosario, 2 mi East San Fernando Velicata (29.97 -115.20), CSCA. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA .

Fig. 197 — Sphaeropthalma arota 2 (Cresson, 1875): Code 1/3, length 8.6 mm, USA (NA), California, Inyo Co., Big Pine (37.15 -118.32), EMUS. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA.

Fig. 198 — Sphaeropthalma arota 3 (Cresson, 1875): Code 1/4, length 9.4 mm, USA (NA), California, San Bernardino Co., Meyer Canyon Rd. , 5 mi. NW Devore (34.27 -117.41), CSCA. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA .

Fig. 199 — Sphaeropthalma auripilis (Blake, 1871) : Code 1/2, length 5.9 mm, USA (NA), Texas, near Luling (29.68 -97.65), CASC. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA .

Fig. 200 — Sphaeropthalma becki* Ferguson, 1967 : Code 1/4, length 2.7 mm, USA (NA), California, Inyo Co., Saline Valley (36.70 -117.82), CSCA. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA. This female has similar size, distribution, and ITS1 sequences to males of S. becki (KAW pers. obs.). It was described as Odontophotopsis unassociated female in Pitts et al. (2019) and may be transferred to that genus in the future.

Fig. 201 — Sphaeropthalma bisetosa* Schuster, 1958 : Code 1/4, length 10.4 mm, USA (NA), Arizona, Madera Canyon (31.78 -110.89), UCDC. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA. The sex association is based on overlapping distribution and similarity of both sexes to S. lamyrus (KAW pers. obs.).

Fig. 202 — Sphaeropthalma blakeii (Fox, 1893) : Code 1/4, length 8.6 mm, USA (NA), California, Riverside Co., 18 mi West Blythe (33.61 -114.59), CSCA. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA .

Fig. 203 — Sphaeropthalma brachyptera* (Schuster, 1945) : Code 1/4, length 3.1 mm, USA (NA), California, Monterey Co., Salinas (36.68 -121.66), CSCA. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA. The sex association is based on identical ITS1 sequences (KAW pers. obs.) .

Fig. 204 — Sphaeropthalma capricornis (Rohwer, 1909) : Code 1/1, length 4.8 mm, USA (NA), Colorado, Boulder, near Yoba Hatchet Hill (40.01 -105.30), USNM. Holotype. Photo by KAW at CDFA.

Fig. 205 — Sphaeropthalma ceres (Fox, 1899) : Code 1/3, length 3.4 mm, USA (NA), Oregon, Harney (43.00 - 119.00), CASC. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA .

Fig. 206 — Sphaeropthalma contracta (Blake, 1879) : Code 1/2, length 7.5 mm, USA (NA), Utah, Logan, Mouth of Green Canyon (41.77 -111.77), EMUS. Determined by J.P. Pitts. Photo by KAW at USU.

Fig. 207 — Sphaeropthalma danaus* (Blake, 1871) : Code 1/4, length 3.1 mm, USA (NA), Texas, Kenedy Ranch (26.98 -97.68), TAMU. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA. The sex association is based on males and females collected together in Texas (KAW pers. obs.) .

Fig. 208 — Sphaeropthalma difficilis (Baker, 1905) : Code 1/4, length 3.7 mm, USA (NA), New Mexico, Thomson Canyon, Everhart Ranch (32.89 -108.70), FSCA. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA .

Fig. 209 — Sphaeropthalma django Pitts & Wilson, 2009 : Code 1/4, length 3.2 mm, USA (NA), California, Imperial Co., Glamis (33.00 -115.07), CSCA. Determined by J.P. Pitts. Photo by KAW at CDFA .

Fig. 210 — Sphaeropthalma ecarinata Schuster, 1958 : Code 1/4, length 7 mm, USA (NA), California, Imperial Co., 17 mi NW Glamis (33.15 -115.31), EMEC. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA .

Fig. 211 — Sphaeropthalma edwardsii 1 (Cresson, 1875): Code 1/3, length 9.5 mm, USA (NA), California, Fresno Co., Kettleman City (36.00 -120.04), CSCA. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA .

Fig. 212 — Sphaeropthalma edwardsii 2 (Cresson, 1875): Code 3/3, length 10.2 mm, USA (NA), California, Inyo Co., Owens Lake Valley (36.28 -117.99), CSCA. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA .

Fig. 213 — Sphaeropthalma ferruginea* (Blake, 1879) : Code 1/4, length 5 mm, USA (NA), California, San Bernardino Co., Cactus Flats (34.21 -116.81), CSCA. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA. The sex association is based on overlapping distribution and similarity of both sexes to S. orestes (KAW pers. obs.).

Fig. 214 — Sphaeropthalma gulltopp* Williams & Pitts, 2007 : Code 1/1, length 6.1 mm, Venezuela (NT), Anzoategui Bergentin (10.02 -64.36), EMUS. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at USU. The sex association is based on males and females collected together in Trinidad (KAW pers. obs.).

Fig. 215 — Sphaeropthalma hati Williams & Pitts, 2007 : Code 3/1, length 10 mm, Mexico (NT), Quintana Roo, Nuevo X-can, X-Eki (20.87 -87.60), EMUS. Paratype. Photo by KAW at USU .

Fig. 216 — Sphaeropthalma hyalina* (Blake, 1871) : Code 1/4, length 3.2 mm, USA (NA), Arizona, Moenkopi (36.10 -111.25), FSCA. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA. The sex association is based on overlapping distribution and similarity of both sexes to S. brachyptera (KAW pers. obs.).

Fig. 217 — Sphaeropthalma hypermnestra (Fox, 1899) : Code 1/4, length 5 mm, USA (NA), California, San Diego Co., Jucumba (32.62 -116.19), CASC. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA. This has many similarities with Odontophotopsis and will likely be transferred to that genus in the future (KAW pers. obs.).

Fig. 218 — Sphaeropthalma ignacio* Schuster, 1958 : Code 1/4, length 8.2 mm, Mexico (NA), Baja California

Sur, Las Barracas (23.58 -109.58), EMEC. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA. The sex association is based on identical ITS1 sequences (KAW pers. obs.).

Fig. 219 — Sphaeropthalma imperialis (Blake, 1871) : Code 3/4, length 8.3 mm, USA (NA), Texas, NE Dermott (32.90 -101.06), CASC. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA .

Fig. 220 — Sphaeropthalma jacala Schuster, 1958 : Code 1/4, length 7.5 mm, USA (NA), Arizona, Proctor Rd. (31.74 -110.89), CSCA. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA .

Fig. 221 — Sphaeropthalma lamyrus Cameron, 1896 : Code 1/1, length 9 mm, Costa Rica (NT), Guanacaste, Santa Rosa NP (10.84 -85.71), NHMUK. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at DPI .

Fig. 222 — Sphaeropthalma laodamia (Fox, 1899) : Code 1/4, length 9.4 mm, USA (NA), Arizona, Miller Canyon (31.43 -110.26), TAMU. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA .

Fig. 223 — Sphaeropthalma marpesia (Blake, 1879) : Code 1/3, length 9.5 mm, USA (NA), Nevada, Ash Meadows, Far Ash Meadows Road (36.43 -116.37), EMUS. Determined by J.P. Pitts. Photo by KAW at USU.

Fig. 224 — Sphaeropthalma megagnathos Schuster, 1958 : Code 1/4, length 9 mm, USA (NA), Arizona, NE Littlefield (36.95 -113.80), CSCA. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA .

Fig. 225 — Sphaeropthalma mendica (Blake, 1871) : Code 1/4, length 7.5 mm, USA (NA), California, Papoose Flat (37.02 -118.11), CSCA. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA .

Fig. 226 — Sphaeropthalma mesillensis* (Cockerell, 1897) : Code 1/4, length 2.8 mm, USA (NA), Arizona, West jct.389 & 89A (36.94 -112.56), FSCA. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA. The sex association is based on identical ITS1 sequences (KAW pers. obs.) .

Fig. 227 — Sphaeropthalma militaris Schuster, 1958 : Code 1/4, length 9.5 mm, USA (NA), California, 1 mi North Glamis (33.01 -115.07), EMEC. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA .

Fig. 228 — Sphaeropthalma minutella (Mickel, 1938) : Code 1/4, length 3.9 mm, USA (NA), California, Eagle Lake, Lassen (40.67 -120.66), CASC. Paratype. Photo by KAW at CDFA .

Fig. 229 — Sphaeropthalma noctivaga* (Melander, 1903) : Code 1/4, length 3.1 mm, USA (NA), Arizona, Proctor Rd. (31.74 -110.89), CSCA. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA. The sex association is based on identical ITS1 sequences (KAW pers. obs.) .

Fig. 230 — Sphaeropthalma orestes (Fox, 1899) : Code 1/4, length 7.2 mm, USA (NA), Arizona, Moenkopi (36.10 -111.19), FSCA. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA .

Fig. 231 — Sphaeropthalma pallida* (Blake, 1871) : Code 1/4, length 3 mm, USA (NA), California, JTNP, 49 Palms (33.73 -115.79), CSCA. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA. The sex association is based on identical ITS1 sequences (KAW pers. obs.) .

Fig. 232 — Sphaeropthalma pallidipes* Schuster, 1958 : Code 1/4, length 6.2 mm, USA (NA), Arizona, Agua Caliente (32.97 -113.28), CSCA. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA. The sex association is based on identical ITS1 sequences (KAW pers. obs.) .

Fig. 233 — Sphaeropthalma parapenalis* Ferguson, 1967 : Code 1/4, length 5.3 mm, USA (NA), California, Berkeley (37.87 -122.25), CASC. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA. The sex association is based on identical ITS1 sequences (KAW pers. obs.) .

Fig. 234 — Sphaeropthalma parkeri* Schuster, 1958 : Code 1/4, length 6.5 mm, USA (NA), Arizona, South Ehrenburg (33.59 -114.52), CSCA. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA. The sex association is based on identical ITS1 sequences (KAW pers. obs.) .

Fig. 235 — Sphaeropthalma pateli* Schuster, 1958 : Code 1/4, length 4.7 mm, USA (NA), Arizona, Cochise

Co., Garden Canyon Wash (31.50 -110.28), CSCA. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA. The sex association is based on males and females collected together in Arizona (KAW pers. obs.).

Fig. 236 — Sphaeropthalma pensylvanica (Lepeletier, 1845) : Code 1/2, length 8.5 mm, USA (NA), South Carolina, 7 mi NE Pickens (34.98 -82.66), FSCA. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at USU .

Fig. 237 — Sphaeropthalma pinalea* Schuster, 1958 : Code 1/4, length 8.8 mm, USA (NA), New Mexico, Clayton Lake (36.44 -103.18), CSUC. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA. The sex association is based on overlapping distribution and similarity to S. triangularis (KAW pers. obs.).

Fig. 238 — Sphaeropthalma pinales* Schuster, 1958 : Code 1/4, length 5.8 mm, USA (NA), New Mexico, Meadow Creek (32.99 -108.19), FSCA. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA. The sex association is based on overlapping distribution and similarity to S. lamyrus (KAW pers. obs.).

Fig. 239 — Sphaeropthalma pluto* (Fox, 1899) : Code 1/4, length 7.5 mm, USA (NA), Arizona, Cochise

Co., Garden Canyon Wash (31.50 -110.28), CSCA. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA. The sex association is based on males and females collected together in Arizona (KAW pers. obs.).

Fig. 240 — Sphaeropthalma ratatosk Williams & Pitts, 2007 : Code 4/1, length 7.5 mm, Guatemala (NT), Izabal (15.35 -88.68), UCRC. Holotype. Photo by KAW at CDFA.

Fig. 241 — Sphaeropthalma sanctaefae (Cockerell, 1897) : Code 1/4, length 5.8 mm, USA (NA), New Mexico, Grant Co., Hurley (32.70 -108.13), FSCA. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA .

Fig. 242 — Sphaeropthalma scudderi* Schuster, 1958 : Code 1/4, length 5.8 mm, USA (NA), Arizona, 1 mi West Portal (31.91 -109.16), AMNH. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA. The sex association is based on identical ITS1 sequences (KAW pers. obs.) .

Fig. 243 — Sphaeropthalma seminanula (Rohwer, 1909) : Code 1/4, length 4.7 mm, USA (NA), Colorado, Boulder (40.02 -105.27), USNM. Holotype. Photo by KAW at CDFA.

Fig. 244 — Sphaeropthalma skoll Williams & Pitts, 2007 : Code 2/1, length 10 mm, Panama ** (NT), Chiriqui, 6 mi West El Volcan (8.69 -82.64), EMUS. Paratype. Photo by KAW at USU .

Fig. 245 — Sphaeropthalma triangularis (Blake, 1871) : Code 1/4, length 10 mm, USA (NA), California, Owens Lake Valley (36.28 -117.99), CSCA. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA .

Fig. 246 — Sphaeropthalma unicolor (Cresson, 1865) : Code 1/3, length 8.1 mm, USA (NA), California, Mt.Diablo (37.90 -121.87), EMEC. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA .

Fig. 247 — Sphaeropthalma uro (Blake, 1879) : Code 1/4, length 5.1 mm, USA (NA), Arizona (33.55 -111.64), FSCA. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA .

Fig. 248 — Sphaeropthalma uvaldella* Schuster, 1958 : Code 1/4, length 3.3 mm, USA (NA), Arizona, Cochise Co., Garden Canyon Wash (31.50 -110.28), CSCA. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA. The sex association is based on males and females collected together in Arizona (KAW pers. obs.) .

Fig. 249 — Sphaeropthalma yumaella* Schuster, 1958 : Code 1/4, length 3 mm, USA (NA), California, Borrego (33.22 -116.33), CASC. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA. The sex association is based on identical ITS1 sequences (KAW pers. obs.) .

Fig. 250 — Sphaeropthalma zephyritis (danaF02) (Fox, 1899): Code 1/4, length 6.3 mm, USA (NA), California, Hungry Valley (34.71 -118.82), EMEC. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA .

Fig. 251 — Sphaeropthalma aff. pinalea Schuster, 1958 : Code 1/4, length 6.6 mm, Mexico (NA), Baja California, West Penjamo (29.98 -115.22), CASC. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA .

Fig. 252 — Sphaeropthalma aff. ratatosk Williams & Pitts, 2007 : Code 2/1, length 7.9 mm, Belize (NT), Coya (16.73 -88.99), EMUS. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA.

Fig. 253 — Sphaeropthalma sp. nov. 1: Code 1/3, length 6.7 mm, USA (NA), California, Napa Co., Pope Valley (38.62 -122.43), CASC. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA .

Fig. 254 — Sphaeropthalma sp. nov. 2: Code 1/4, length 5 mm, USA (NA), New Mexico, Carson National Forest (36.36 -106.52), EMEC. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA .

Fig. 255 — Sphaeropthalma sp. nov. 3: Code 1/4, length 5.1 mm, USA (NA), New Mexico, Lordsburg (32.36 - 108.73), FSCA. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA .

Fig. 256 — Sphaeropthalma sp. nov. 4: Code 1/4, length 5.1 mm, Guatemala (NT), Zacapa (15.12 -89.63), FSCA. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA .

Fig. 257 — Sphaeropthalma sp. nov. 5: Code 1/4, length 3.4 mm, Mexico (NA), Aguascalientes (21.73 -102.28), CASC. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA .

Fig. 258 — Sphaeropthalma sp. nov. 6: Code 1/4, length 6.8 mm, USA (NA), Arizona, Hwy 260 (34.28 -111.14), CSCA. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA .

Fig. 259 — Sphaeropthalma sp. nov. 7: Code 1/4, length 6 mm, Mexico (NA), Baja California Sur, SW Ejido Esperanza (22.90 -109.86), CSCA. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA .

Fig. 260 — Sphaeropthalma sp. nov. 8: Code 1/4, length 10.8 mm, Mexico (NA), Baja California Sur, North Ligui (25.73 -111.27), CASC. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA .

Fig. 261 — Sphaeropthalma sp. nov. 9: Code 1/4, length 6.7 mm, Mexico (NT), Veracruz, 2 mi SW Fortin (18.88 -97.03), FSCA. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA .

Fig. 262 — Sphaeropthalma sp. nov. 10: Code 1/1, length 7 mm, Mexico (NT), OAX, South San Jose Pacifico (16.16 -96.50), TAMU. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at CDFA.

Fig. 263 — Sphaeropthalma sp. nov. 11: Code 1/1, length 4.5 mm, Argentina (NT), Santa Cruz (-48.74 -70.25), AMNH. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at DPI.

Fig. 264 — Sphaeropthalma sp. nov. 12: Code 2/1, length 6 mm, Brazil (NT), Paraná, Parque Estadual de Vila Velha (-25.23 -50.00), DZUP. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at UFPR.

Fig. 265 — Sphaeropthalma sp. nov. 13: Code 2/1, length 6 mm, Brazil (NT), Bahia, Porto Seguro, Est. Ecol. Pau Brasil (-16.38 -39.18), MZSP. Determined by KAW. Photo by G. Furman at UFPR.

Fig. 266 — Sphaeropthalma sp. nov. 14: Code 4/1, length 4.5 mm, Brazil (NT), Tocantins, São Félix do Tocantins (-10.07 -46.75), MZSP. Determined by KAW. Photo by G. Furman at UFPR .

Fig. 267 — Sphaeropthalma sp. nov. 15: Code 3/2, length 5.5 mm, Brazil (NT), Mato Grosso, Chapada dos Guimarães (-15.34 -55.86), DZUP. Determined by KAW. Photo by KAW at UFPR.

Figures

FIGURES 192–236. Sphaeropthalminae: Sphaeropthalmini, part 4. Dorsal habitus. Scale bars represent actual specimen length.

FIGURES 237–268. Sphaeropthalminae: Sphaeropthalmini, part 5. Dorsal habitus. Scale bars represent actual specimen length.