title: Description of a new species and species-group of Sphaeropthalma Blake Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) with an updated classification of the genus.
abstract: A study of Sphaeropthalma Blake from the southwestern USA has revealed a highly autapomorphic undescribed species. This species is described here as S. tapio Pitts & Sadler, sp. nov., and is placed in a new species-group, the S. tapio species-group. This species seems to be found only at higher altitudes in southern Arizona. It is compared to other similar Sphaeropthalma species-groups and is likely most closely related to members of the S. imperialis species-group. An updated species-group classification of Sphaeropthalma is provided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Utah State University, 5305 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322, USA.; Email: jpitts@biology.usu.edu.
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Pitts
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Utah State University, 5305 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322, USA.; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Emily A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Sadler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001130:Arizona; D006927:Hymenoptera / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification*; D008297:Male