Physotarsus montezuma Cameron, 1886
Mesoleius montezuma: Townes in Townes and Townes 1966: 139 (transfer to Physotarsus, status of type specimen).
Scopesis flavolineatus Cameron, 1904: 254. Holotype male in BMNH.
Scopesis flavolineatus: Townes in Townes and Townes 1966: 139 (as synonym of montezuma).
Physotarsus montezuma: Townes and Townes 1966: 139 (catalog, synonymy); Gauld 1997: 192 (distribution); Yu and Horstmann 1997: 455 (catalog); Zhaurova and Wharton 2009a: 29 (in list of valid species of Physotarsus); Zhaurova and Wharton 2009b: 9-10, 40-42 (redescription, inclusion in key to species)
The shape of the clypeus, reduction of the occipital carina, lack of fore wing areolet, and inflated hind tarsi (the latter as figured by Cameron 1886) indicate that this is a typical member of the genus as characterized by Zhaurova and Wharton (2009a, 2009b).
This species differs from all others with a distinctly punctate mesopleuron by the more nearly completely black mesosoma. It is most similar to darker specimens of P. tonicus Zhaurova, which also have about the same pattern of punctation on the mesoscutum. The fore and mid femora are at least partly dark brown to black in P. tonicus and yellow in P. montezuma.
There are no specimens currently determined for this OTU, or those specimens determined for this OTU are not yet mappable.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Number DEB 0328922 with REU supplement DEB 0723663.
Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.