Review of the genus Lomachaeta Mickel, 1936 (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) with new species and sex associations.

New species and sex associations are proposed in the genus Lomachaeta Mickel, 1936. Six new species are described: Lomachaeta calamondin Williams, L. eironeia Williams, L. juanita Williams, L. meloi Williams, L. osita Williams, and L. warneri Williams. The previously unknown females of five species are described: L. beadugrimi (Pitts Manley, 2004); L. chionothrix Pitts Manley, 2004; L. hedera Williams Pitts, 2009; L. hyphantria Pitts Manley, 2004; and L. vacamuerta Williams Pitts, 2009. The previously unknown male of L. vianai Casal, 1969 is described and L. megomicron Williams Pitts, 2009 is placed as its synonym. Various new country and state records are presented. New keys and habitus pictures for all the 24 known species are provided.

New species of Traumatomutilla André in the T. tabapua and T. integella species-groups (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae).

Five new species of Traumatomutilla André from Brazil are described: T. fratres Bartholomay Williams sp. nov., T. anhanga Bartholomay Williams sp. nov., T. barathra Bartholomay Williams sp. nov., T. poranga Bartholomay Williams sp. nov. and T. pantherina Bartholomay Williams sp. nov. Traumatomutilla tabapua Casal, 1969, T. luscoides André, 1908 and T. integella (Cresson, 1902) are redescribed. T. verecunda (Cresson, 1902) is proposed as junior synonym of T. integella based on morphological evidence. T. luscoides is transferred from the T. integella to the T. tabapua species-group.

The mutillid wasps of the Dasymutilla paradoxa species-group (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae).

The Dasymutilla paradoxa species-group is newly proposed to include taxa formerly included in the genera Dasymutilla Ashmead, 1899, Traumatomutilla André, 1901 and some previously incertae sedis. This species-group now includes the following eight species: D. fasciventris Mickel, D. guanacaste Manley & Pitts, D. naranjo Manley & Pitts, D. paradoxa (Gerstaecker), comb. nov., D. paraparadoxa, sp. nov., D. phya (Cameron), comb. nov., D. relata (Cameron), and D. sliepniri Manley & Pitts. Dasymutilla paraparadoxa Luz, Bartholomay & Williams, sp. nov. (Mexico, Guatemala) is described and illustrated. New synonymy is proposed (valid names are first) for: Dasymutilla fasciventris Mickel, 1938 (=Dasymutilla citromaculosa Manley & Pitts, 2007, syn. nov., =Dasymutilla chamela Manley & Pitts, 2007, syn. nov.); Mutilla paradoxa Gerstaecker, 1874 (=Sphaerophthamla [sic!] icaris Cameron, 1895, syn. nov.); Sphaerophthalma [sic!] phya Cameron, 1895 (=Sphaerophthalma [sic!] melissa Cameron, 1895, syn. nov.). The key to species is given.

Frigitilla gen. nov., a new genus of Amazonian Mutillidae (Hymenoptera).

Mutilla frigidula Cresson, 1902 was transferred to Tobantilla by Williams et al. (2011), based on morphological similarities with females of that genus. Discovery of the male of this species indicated significant morphological differences from Tobantilla. We therefore erect the genus, Frigitilla gen. nov., for Mutilla frigidula. Herein, we describe the male of F. frigidula (Cresson, 1902), comb. nov., associate it with its host (Trypoxylon spp.), and discuss its relations to other mutillid genera. The impact of collecting method and specimen age on the integumental coloration of specimens is discussed, emphasizing the need to diagnose species on consistent structural features rather than differences in color pattern.

On the limits of complexity in living forms.

In a recent book chapter, Morris, S.C., 2013. Life: the final frontier for complexity? In: Lineweaver, C.H., Davies, P.C.W., Ruse, M. (Eds.), Complexity and the Arrow of Time. pp. 135-161. argues that there are limits to the complexity of life forms and that with the exception of human beings these limits have already been reached. We recommend seeing human use of technology as a natural, evolutionary process. We then proceed to claim that biological engineering other species to increase their complexity can be an efficient way to delay the heat death locally. Whenever, wherever in the universe living things become intelligent enough to perform these kinds of operations, they will be able to increase complexity around them as long as a gradient of energy is available. This conclusion has deep impact on both science and philosophy.

The first sexual associations in the genus Darditilla Casal, 1965 (Hymenoptera, Mutillidae).

New sex associations are proposed for four species of Darditilla: Darditillaamabilis (Gerstaecker, 1874); Darditillabejaranoi Casal, 1968; Darditilladebilis (Gerstaecker, 1874); and Darditillafelina (Burmeister, 1854). Darditillabotija Casal, 1965, syn. n. is the male of Darditillaamabilis; the other three males were previously unknown. Mutilladecorosa Kohl, 1882, syn. n. is conspecific with Darditillafelina. Descriptions and extended diagnoses are provided for previously unknown males and for females that were not adequately described. These represent the first sex associations for the genus Darditilla.