Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Seventeen Dasymutilla species and subspecies were discovered to be indistinguishable from Dasymutilla quadriguttata (Say), and were synonymized under D. quadriguttata based on morphology, natural history and molecular data.
Pilgrim, E.M., K.A. Williams, D.G. Manley & J.P. Pitts. 2009. Addressing the Dasymutilla quadriguttata Species-Group and Species-Complex (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae): Several Distinct Species or a Single, Morphologically Variable Species?. Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society, 82(3): 231-249.
The most current generic placement of the species is used for the list -- Dasymutilla, not the genus the species were originally described in. Ordered by date of description. The list is as follows:
Dasymutilla quadriguttata (Say, 1823)
=Dasymutilla castor (Blake, 1871)
=Dasymutilla mutata (Blake, 1871)
=Dasymutilla cypris (Blake, 1871)
=Dasymutilla electra (Blake, 1872)
=Dasymutilla biguttata (Cockerell, 1895)
=Dasymutilla mutata miamensis Rohwer, 1912
=Dasymutilla allardi Rohwer, 1912
=Dasymutilla alesia Banks, 1921
=Dasymutilla interrupta Banks, 1921
=Dasymutilla permista Mickel, 1923 (synonymy by Remington, 1944)
=Dasymutilla atrifimbriata Mickel, 1928
=Dasymutilla nitidula Mickel, 1928
=Dasymutilla rubricosa Mickel, 1928
=Dasymutilla hora Mickel, 1928
=Dasymutilla nitidula var. nigridia Mickel, 1936
=Dasymutilla hersilia Mickel, 1936
=Dasymutilla mediatoria Mickel, 1936
Identification
Females: Mesosoma is longer than broad with a scutellar scale. Presence of linear tubercles on the posterolateral angles of the head. Coloration and number of maculae/spots on the second tergite varies.
Males: A pit filled with dense setae present on the second sternite. Coloration doesn't seem to vary much (all black or very dark red except for the orange integument on the second tergite).
Males will likely pose a problem when identifying from photos, as they can have the same coloration as Dasymutilla bioculata and Dasymutilla vesta (entirely black except for the orange/yellow macula on the second tergite).
