Lomachaeta
Mickel, 1936
Species Guides
2Lomachaeta is a of velvet ants (Mutillidae) established by Mickel in 1936. The genus includes distributed across western North America, Mexico, Central America, and South America. A 2004 revision described six new species and consolidated several previously described species under L. hicksi. data have been recorded for at least some species, indicating relationships with other insects.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Lomachaeta: //loʊ.məˈkɑː.tə//
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Identification
Lomachaeta can be distinguished from other mutillid using the revised key provided by Manley and Deyrup (2004), which includes for each species. Specific diagnostic characters for the genus are not detailed in available sources.
Distribution
Western United States (Utah, southwestern USA), Mexico, Guatemala, and Bolivia. New distributional data were presented for L. hicksi in the 2004 revision.
Life Cycle
Velvet ants are solitary ; females lay in the nests of insects. Specific details for Lomachaeta are not detailed in available sources.
Behavior
Females are wingless and search for nests on the ground. Males are winged. Both sexes possess a powerful sting, a characteristic of the Mutillidae.
Ecological Role
As , Lomachaeta likely regulate of their insects.
Human Relevance
Like other velvet ants, Lomachaeta possess a painful sting and should be handled with caution. The 2004 revision provided data relevant to research.
Similar Taxa
- DasymutillaSeveral Dasymutilla were synonymized under Lomachaeta hicksi, indicating historical confusion between these .
- SmicromutillaReviewed alongside Lomachaeta in the same revision; both are mutillid with overlapping geographic distributions.
More Details
Taxonomic revision
The 2004 revision by Manley and Deyrup in Zootaxa substantially reorganized the , describing six new and synonymizing six species under L. hicksi based on page priority.