Timulla floridensis
Timulla floridensis is a of velvet ant in the Mutillidae. The species was proposed in a 1980 Ph.D. dissertation by Sigurd Leopold Szerlip but remains officially undescribed and nomenclaturally invalid because the dissertation was never formally published. As a member of the Timulla, it is a wingless female (males have wings) with a potent sting. The species is associated with Florida, where it frequents sun-dappled patches on the floor of deciduous forests.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Timulla floridensis: /tɪˈmʌlə flɒrɪˈdɛnsɪs/
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Habitat
Sun-dappled patches on the floor of deciduous forests.
Distribution
Florida, United States.
Similar Taxa
- Sergiolus capulatusThe spider Sergiolus capulatus bears an uncanny resemblance to velvet ants in the Timulla, including similar preferences in sun-dappled forest floor patches. This is a case of where the harmless spider mimics the stinging velvet ant.
More Details
Nomenclatural status
The name Timulla floridensis was proposed in an unpublished 1980 Ph.D. dissertation and remains nomenclaturally invalid under ICZN Article 8. As of 2009, efforts were underway to validate the name through formal publication with Szerlip as coauthor.