Hoplisoides carinatus from Carrizozo, NM? - Hoplisoides -

This female keys out between H. carinatus and H. confertus in Bohart's 1997 key, with some mixup of specifics for both species. The mostly yellow pygidium matches Bohart's key character for H. carinatus, but the easternmost US location (and only NM record) he listed for that species is Rodeo on the AZ border. His distribution records for H. confertus make more sense by comparison, as those include Tornero NM about 120 miles due east of Carrizozo, as well as extending further east into TX, OK and further north to Chadron NE.

Neither of both species is included here in BG yet, so if there is a reliable way for more experienced members to decide on the identification dilemma, then that would allow adding another Hoplisoides species. Maybe I'm just misinterpreting what is versus isn't included in the pygidium, and actually it is all red in this female (and thus species ID would in fact be H. confertus without conflict)?

Click here for a closer look at the side view and here for a larger view of the oblique angle on the face pattern.

There were 3 individuals of the same species jealously guarding different spots on the soaptree "pickles" at this location, with occasional tussles between 2 of them, as well as very frequent fisticuffs with other competitors (especially more numerous smallish Larrini wasps) that tried to lick/chew the same scars on the fruits.

It was very windy on both days I passed by and spotted these, with the soaptree fruit stalks swaying almost all the time. The female shown here gave me the best angles and detail of head and body colors but, unfortunately no good image of the wing veins and tinting pattern. I've upload blurrier shots separately of the second female that I could get close enough to, which do include a good wing image.