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Paraguay is a landlocked republic, divided into two sections by the Paraguay river: a western region (Region Occidental, Chaco), 246,925 km², sparsely populated and occupying 60.7% of the surface of the country, and an eastern region (Region Oriental), with 159,827 km², and more than 97% of the population of the country. The vegetation and land usage of these two distinctly different ecosystems has been reviewed (see references, under Paraguay). In addition to the recent headline news about political unrest in Paraguay, we have read in the news about the strong polemic between environmentalists and business entrepreneurs concerning the radical plan to link two landlocked countries (Bolivia and Paraguay) via an Atlantic waterway expansion project ("Hidrovia" in Spanish), a 2,000 mile waterway connecting ports of Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and the west brazilian town of Caceres. Large parts of the Paraguayan Oriental forests are being cut down rapidly, under the ever increasing pressures of urban and agricultural development. We know very little about many of the insect groups from Paraguay and, if the present trend is continued, we have only a few years left to learn about them before most of their natural habitats are drastically modified.
Thanks to the great help from Bolívar Rafael Garcete B. (Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, Sucursal 1 Campus, Ciudad Universitaria, Central XT, San Lorenzo), and the excellent policy developed by John A. Kochalka, to provide loans to those that request them, we have been able to examine 336 specimens of Mutillidae from Paraguay, in two loans, received in 1995 and 1996. Although it is a small sample, and the larger territory of the Occidental region remains poorly sampled (with only 7 out of the 23 localities sampled), examination of this material has resulted in a near tripling of the number of species of Mutillidae known from Paraguay, from 51 previously known (André 1910; Nonveiller 1990; Fritz 1990; Fritz & Pagliano 1993) to the 134 species listed below (including a total of 26 morphospecies of Pseudomethoca, Sphaeropthalma, Traumatomutilla). Included in the total of 51 mutillid names, previously reported as present in Paraguay, are the following three "Incertae Sedis" names (Nonveiller 1990): Mutilla alacris André, 1901, female, Mutilla hoplitiformis Strand, 1909, female, and Mutilla (Photopsis) paraguayensis André, 1901, male. We have examined two specimens from Boqueron, Parque Nacional Teniente A. Enciso, Zona Administrativa, Aug 1994, and determined them as Sphaeropthalma (Photopsis) paraguayensis (André, 1901), NEW COMBINATION.
Although we have not seen André's holotype material of paraquayensis, it was collected on the Chaco at near the same latitude as the two additional males we report here. In addition, the meticulous description given by André (1901) permits us to recognize the following diagnostic features: absence of a ventral, basal tooth on the mandibles, the nearly smooth integument of the head (with very small punctures), and the distinctive coloration of the integument and pubescence. It is the only nocturnal mutillid described from Paraguay. We have recognized two additional species of Sphaeropthalma (Photopsis) that will be described in a separate publication.
The majority of the specimens reported here were collected by Bolívar Garcete, both manually and with yellow pans filled with detergent water.
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Abbreviations for localities (marked on map; localities R and V were not found):
1. Occidente - Chaco:
(A): Alto Paraguay, Palmar de las Islas, Estancia San José, Sep 1994
(B): Boquerón, Gral. Eugenio A. Garay, Jun 1995
(C): Boquerón, Parque Nacional Teniente A. Enciso, Zona Administrativa, Aug 1994
(D): Pdte. Hayes, Cruce los Pioneros, Jan 1996
(E): Pdte. Hayes, Transchaco Hwy km 438, Dec 1993
(F): Pdte. Hayes, Rio Confuso, Ruta Transchaco, Oct Dec 1993, Feb Oct 1995
(G): Pdte. Hayes, Monte Lindo, Nov 1993
2. Oriente:
(H): San Pedro, Gral. Resquin, Naranjito, Dec 1995
(I): Paraguari, Compañia, Naranjo, Feb 1996
(J): Caazapá, San José, Cristal [en alrededores Reserva Ecológica Coaguazú], Dec 1995
(K): Canindeyu, Reserva Natural del Bosque, Mbaracayú, Puesto Lagunita, Sep 1995
(L): Canindeyu, Cerrito Cruce Sta. Rosa, Sep 1995
(N): Concepción, Cororo, Nov 1995
(O): Cordillera, [campamento Lack Novenant] Caacupé, Oct 1994
(P): Paraguarí, Parque Nacional [Monumento Natural] Ybycuí, Oct 1994, Jan Feb 1995, Jan 1996
(Q): Paraguarí, Cerro Acahay, Jan 1996
(R): Concepción, Costa Romero, Oct 1985.
(S): Central, Capiatá, Oct 1993
(T): Central, San Lorenzo, Jun 1994
(U): San Pedro, Liberación, Jan 1994
(V): Guaira, Roque Gonzalez, Jan 1995
(X): Itapua, Isla Yacyreta, Jan 1993
(Y): Alto Paraná, Reserva Biológica [Golondrina, privada] del Rio Monday, Oct 1989
* species reported for the first time from Paraguay
** genus reported for the first time from Paraguay
F: females M: males. Number before each sex represent the total number of specimens we have examined from Paraguay
SPHAEROPTHALMINAE
Atillum captiosum Mickel, 1943 1F (R)
Atillum hirsutum Mickel, 1943 3F (D)
Atillum mitratum Mickel, 1943 M
*Atillum ornamentum Mickel, 1943 1F (B)
Atillum stygium Mickel, 1943 M F
*Cenhalomutilla albicalcaris Mickel, 1960 11F (D)
*Cenhalomutilla confluenta Mickel, 1960 1F (D)
Cenhalomutilla distincta Mickel, 1960 5F (D), (I)
*Darditilla ameliae (Casal), 1968 2F (H)
*Darditilla aurolineata (André), 1907 3F (D)
*Darditilla buonae (Casal), 1968 2F (D)
*Darditilla delpontei (Casal), 1968 9F (H), (I), (N)
*Darditilla hepperi (Casal), 1968 1F (I)
*Darditilla infantilis (Burmeister), 1875 3F (H), (N)
*Darditilla maurii (Casal), 1968 1F (D)
*Darditilla mita (Casal), 1968 8F (D)
Darditilla vianai (Casal), 1968 14F (D), (H)
Hoplocrates monacha (Gerstaecker), 1874 3F (H)
Hoplomutilla limata (André), 1906 F
Hoplomutilla myops flavimyops Mickel, 1939 F
Hoplomutilla spinosa (Swederus), 1787 1F (P)
Hoplomutilla triumphans Mickel, 1939 F
**Horcomutilla glabriceps (André), 1908 1F (D)
**Horcomutilla piala Casal, 1970 1F (E)
**Horcomutilla ypane Fritz, 1992 2F (S), (T)
Leucospilomutilla staurogastra Suárez, 1973 F
Lophomutilla obscura Fritz & Pagliano, 1993 2F (H)
**Lophostigma seabrai Casal, 1963 2F (U), (V)
**Lynchiatilla hoplites (Gerstaecker), 1874 3F (N)
Pertyella aguaz Fritz, 1990 F
Pertyella guarani Fritz & Pagliano, 1993 F
Pertyella uzai Fritz, 1990 1F (U)
*Pertyella yarrowi Casal, 1967 1F (F)
Pertyella sp. 1M (I)
*Pseudomethoca (=Sphinctopsis) candela (Casal), 1973 1F (U)
*Pseudomethoca (=Sphinctopsis) cerasina (Gerstaecker), 1874 3F (D)
*Pseudomethoca credula (Cresson), 1902 2F (F)
*Pseudomethoca (=Sphinctopsis) ichila (Casal), 1970 13F (K), (N), (I)
Pseudomethoca vera (Cresson), 1902 F
Pseudomethoca spp. (7 different morpho-species) 1F, 18M (H), (P), (Q), (F), (E), (X)
Ptilomutilla pennata André, 1905 F
Scaptodactyla gracilescens (Smith), 1879 M
Sphaeropthalma (Photopsis) paraguayensis (André), 1901 2M (C).
NEW COMBINATION from Mutilla (Photopsis) paraguayensis André
Sphaeropthalma (Photopsis) spp. (2 morpho-species) 2M (G), (Y)
Suareztilla bimaculata (André), 1906 2M (I)
Suareztilla calcycina (Gerstaecker), 1874 F
Suareztilla centrolineata (André), 1906 F
*Suareztilla leucotaenia (E. Lynch-Arribalzaga), 1878 7F (D), (I)
*Tallium disjunctum (Gerstaecker), 1874 5F (H), (I)
Tallium. empyreum (Gerstaecker), 1874 42F (D), (H), (I), (N)
*Tallium precarium Suárez, 1960 2M (I)
*Tallium puelche Casal, 1962 3F (D)
Tallium sordidulum (Smith), 1879) M
*Tallium tenebrosum (Gerstaecker), 1874 10M (P), (S), (F)
*Tallium torresi Casal, 1962 1F (E)
*Tallium ulape Casal, 1962 4F (I)
*Traumatomutilla bispiculata André, 1907 1F (D)
Traumatomutilla bivittata rubroquttata André, 1901 F
*Traumatomutilla borba (Cresson), 1902 4F (I)
*Traumatomutilla bruchi André, 1908 2F (D)
Traumatomutilla caipira Casal, 1969 F
*Traumatomutilla caneta (Cresson), 1902 3M (I), (P)
Traumatomutilla chasca Casal, 1969 F
Traumatomutilla chilca Casal, 1969 1F (P)
Traumatomutilla duplicata (Gerstaecker), 1874 F
*Traumatomutilla funesta ? (Gerstaecker), 1874 3M (I)
Traumatomutilla graphica (Gerstaecker), 1874 1F (P)
*Traumatomutilla gurisa Casal, 1969 5F (D)
Traumatomutilla immaculiceps André, 1901 11F (I)
*Traumatomutilla miniata (Gerstaecker), 1874 2F (D)
Traumatomutilla moesta (Gerstaecker), 1874 F
Traumatomutilla parallela (Klug), 1821 F
Traumatomutilla quadrum (Klug), 1821 F
*Traumatomutilla sancta (Gerstaecker), 1874 1F (I)
*Traumatomutilla taboca ? (Cresson), 1902 1M (Q)
*Traumatomutilla trochantera (Gerstaecker), 1874 2F (P)
Traumatomutilla vitelligera (Gerstaecker), 1874 F
Traumatomutilla spp. (17 different morpho-species) 44F, 6M (D), (H), (I), (K), (N), (0), (P),
(B), (T), (U), (A), (X)
**Xystromutilla cornigera (Cresson), 1902 1F (J)
**Xystromutilla krombeini Suárez, 1960 1F (D)
**Xystromutilla montera Casal, 1969 1F (D)
MUTILLINAE
*Ephuta capuera Casal, 1968 1F (U)
Ephuta charrasca Casal, 1968 M
Ephuta cingulifera (André), 1908 M
*Ephuta guampa ? Casal, 1968 2M (K)
*Ephuta indaiala Casal, 1969 1F (H)
*Ephuta mampa Casal, 1968 1M (H)
*Ephuta rubrocincta Mickel, 1952 1M (L)
Ephuta sayana Casal, 1968 2M (P)
*Ephuta umbratica (Gerstaecker), 1874 1F (N)
Ephuta spp. (5 different morpho-species) 12F, 6M
Timulla bilineatella Mickel, 1938 1F (A)
Timulla daucia Mickel, 1938 F
Timulla eris Mickel, 1938 F
*Timulla exclamationis (Cresson), 1902 1F (N)
Timulla fiebrigi Mickel, 1938 1F (S)
Timulla galatea Mickel, 1938 F
*Timulla lineoloides Mickel, 1938 1F (K)
Timulla manni Mickel, 1938 1F (F)
Timulla nasica Mickel, 1938 1M (P)
Timulla pyrene Mickel, 1938 M, F
*Timulla rufiventris (Klug), 1821 1M (H)
Timulla scoparia (Gerstaecker), 1874 3F, M (H), (I), (P)
*Timulla spiniclypeata Mickel, 1938 5F (K), (N)
*Timulla spoliatrix Mickel, 1938 1M (S)
Timulla sulcata Mickel, 1938
*Timulla togatula ? Mickel, 1938 2M (X)
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