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Faculty
James Pitts

James Pitts

Associatge Professor
B.S., University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Physics & Chemistry
Ph.D., University of Georgia, Entomology
Faculty: Biology Faculty
Location:  BNR 233
Office Phone:  435 797-8872
Fax:  435 797-1575
Utah State University
Department of Biology
UMC 5305
Logan, UT 84322-5305
Webpage:  http://www.usu.edu/pompilidweb/

Lab:                   BNR 240
Lab Phone:        797-0358
 

RESEARCH

  • Systematics of Mutillidae with emphasis on the nocturnal Southwestern Nearctic genera
    Current research includes systematics and biogeography of the nocturnal genera Odontophotopsis and Sphaeropthalma s.l., as well as the diurnal genera Lomachaeta and Dasymutilla (both in collaboration with Donald Manley, Clemson, SC).
  • Systematics of spider wasps (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae)
    Currently I am working on a comprehensive phylogeny of Pompilidae, deriving data from morphological, behavioral, and molecular sources, in attempts to validate subfamilial and tribal classifications. Ultimately my goal is to provide tests of hypothesized evolutionary behavioral scenarios of spider wasps in a phylogenetic context.
  • Pollination Biology of Rare Plants
    Currently I have a project to work on insect-plant interactions of 12 rare plants endemic to Ash Meadows National Wildlife Reserve, Nevada. Plants include several which may have specialized pollinator associations (e.g., Ash Meadows Blazingstar (Mentzelia leucophylla), Ash Meadows Lady’s Tresses orchid (Spiranthes infernalis), White Bearpoppy (Arctomecon merriamii), & possibly others).

     

Current Graudate Students

  •   Ph. D.
    1. Kevin Williams, 2005 – present; Systematics of Mutillidae (co-advised with Carol von Dohlen).
    2. Joseph Wilson, 2005 – 2010; Biogeography of nocturnal wasps.
    3. Cecilia Waichert, 2008 – present; Systematics of Pompilidae (co-advised with Carol von Dohlen).
    4. Juanita Rodriguez, 2008 – present; Systematics of Pompilidae (co-advised with Carol von Dohlen).

  •    Masters
    1. Sarah Clark, 2010 – present; Pollinator behavior of endangered plants in the Piceance Basin.
    2. Catherine Clark, 2008 – present; Pollinator behavior of endangered plants at Ash Meadows Wildlife Refuge.
    3. Nicole Frank Boehme, 2008 – present; Pollinator behavior of endangered plants at Ash Meadows Wildlife Refuge.
    4. Jonathan Koch, 2008 – present; Academic Advisor.


REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS

Published–Peer Reviewed
1. Pitts, J.P.,  *J.S. Wilson, and C.D. von Dohlen. 2010. Evolution of the nocturnal Nearctic Sphaeropthalminae velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) driven by Neogene Orogeny and Pleistocene Glaciation. Molecular Phylogenetics 
and Evolution, 56: 134–145. UAES no. 8139. 
  
2. *Wilson, J.S. and J.P. Pitts. 2010. Illuminating the lack of consensus among descriptions of earth history data in the North American deserts: a resource for biologists. Progress in Physical Geography, 34: 419–441. UAES no. 8061.
 
3. *Wilson, J.S. and J.P. Pitts. 2010. Pleistocene climatic cycles driving diversification in the Odontophotopsis unicornis species-group (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 103: 555–565. UAES no. 8167.
 
4. *Wilson, J.S., *K.A. Williams and J.P. Pitts. 2010. Preliminary assessment of velvet ant (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) diversity in the deserts of southern California. Western North American Naturalist, 70: 224–232. UAES no.8094.
 
5. Pitts, J.P., D. Tanner, **G. C. Waldren, and F. D. Parker. 2010. Facultative size-dependant sex allocation in Sphaeropthalma pensylvanica Lepeletier (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) with new host records. Journal of the Kansas 
Entomological Society, 83: 68–75. UAES no. 8003.
 
6. *Wilson, J.S., *K.A. Williams, D. Tanner, and J.P. Pitts. 2010. First observations of nocturnal velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) nectaring. Southwestern Naturalist 53: 443–444. UAES no. 8057.
 
7. Pitts, J.P., *K.A. Williams, *J.S. Wilson and *N. Boehme. 2010. Nocturnal velvet ant males (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of Deep Canyon,California including four new species and a fifth new species from Owens Lake Valley, California. 
Zootaxa, 2553: 1–34. UAES no. 8192.
 
8. *Brabant, C., *K. A. Williams, and J. P. Pitts. 2010. True females of the Photomorphus subgenus Photomorphina Schuster (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Zootaxa, 2559: 58–68. UAES no. 8191.
 
9. *Wilson, J.S., and J.P. Pitts. 2010. Phylogeography of the nocturnal velvet ant genus Dilophotopsis (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae): enhancing our understanding of diversification in the Nearctic desert biota. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 101: 360–375.  UAES no. 8176.
 
10. Pitts, J.P., *K.A. Williams, *J.S. Wilson and *N. Boehme. 2009. The velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of the Algodones sand dunes of California, USA. Zootaxa, 2131: 1–53. UAES no. 8009.
 
11. *Wilson, J.S., J. P. Pitts, and C. von Dohlen. 2009. Lack of variation in nuclear genes among isolated populations of the sand dune restricted bee Colletes stepheni (Hymenoptera: Colletidae). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society, 82: 316–320. UAES no. 8012.
 
12. *Pilgrim, E.M.,*K.A. Williams, D.G. Manley and 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: 231–249.  UAES no. 7989.
 
13. Tanner, D.,T. Griswold and J.P. Pitts.2009. Revision of Mecanthidium (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research 18: 183–191. UAES no. 8098.
 
14. Tanner, D., *N. Boehme and J.P. Pitts. 2009. Revision of Acanthophotopsis (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research 18: 192–204. UAES no. 8066.
 
15. Pitts, J.P., and *J.S. Wilson. 2009. Description of the female of Acrophotopsis (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) and synonymy of Sphaeropthalma dirce. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 18: 205–211. UAES no. 8063.
 
16. *Wilson, J.S. and J.P. Pitts. 2009. Species boundaries of Sphaeropthalma unicolor (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae): Is color useful for differentiating species? Journal of Hymenoptera Research 18: 212–226. UAES no. 8078.
 
17. *Williams, K.A. and J.P. Pitts. 2009. Eight new species of Lomachaeta Mickel and the synonymy of Smicromutilla Mickel (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research 18: 227–243. UAES no. 8079.
 
18. *Pilgrim, E.M., C.D. von Dohlen, and J.P. Pitts. 2008. Molecular phylogenetics of Vespoidea indicate paraphyly of the superfamily and novel relationships of its component families and subfamilies. Zoologica Scripta, 37: 539–560. UAES 7938.
 
19. *Williams, K.A. and J.P. Pitts. 2008. Three species masquerading as one: updating the taxonomy of Pseudomethoca russeola and P. donaeanae (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research, 17: 127–133. UAES 7921.
 
20. *Pilgrim, E.M., *K.A. Williams, and J.P. Pitts. 2008. Sex association and synonymy in Southwestern U.S. species of Dasymutilla (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Pan-Pacific Entomologist, 84: 58–69. UAES 7866.
 
21. *Wilson, J.S. and J.P. Pitts. 2008. Revision of velvet ant genus Dilophotopsis Schuster (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) by using molecular and morphological data, with implications for desert biogeography. Annals of the Entomological Society of 
America, 101: 514–524. UAES 7914.
 
22. Calcaterra, L.A, R. Vander Meer, J.P. Pitts, J.P. Livore, and N.D. Tsutsui. 2007. A survey of fire ants and their parasitoid flies (Diptera: Phoridae: Pseudacteon) in central Chile and central western Argentina. Annals of the American Entomological Society, 100: 512–521.
 
23. *Williams, K.A., and J.P. Pitts. 2007. New species of predominately temperate velvet ant genera Lomachaeta Mickel and Sphaeropthalma Blake from Central America and northern South America (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Transactions of the American Entomological Society, 133: 297–326. UAES 7872.
 
24. Pitts, J.P. 2007. Revision of Odontophotopsis Viereck (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae), Part 1, with a description of a new genus Laminatilla. Zootaxa, 1619: 1–43. UAES 7874.
 
25. Manley, D.G. and J.P. Pitts. 2007. Revision of the Neotropical velvet ants of the genus Dasymutilla (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Zootaxa, 1487: 1–128.
 
26. Pitts, J. P. and D.G. Manley. 2007. Synonymy of Ephuta tentativa Schuster and E. pauxilla Bradley (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Journal of Entomological Science, 42: 341–344. UAES no. 7819.
 
27. *Wilson, J.S., and J.P. Pitts. 2007. New host associations for New World spider wasps (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society, 80: 223–229. UAES no. 7844.
 
28. Pitts, J.P., **T.J. Boud, and *E.M. Pilgrim. 2007. Molecular sex association of three species of nocturnal velvet ant (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society, 80: 136–145. UAES no. 7812.
 
29. Pitts, J.P. 2007. Description of the female of Sphaeropthalma galapagensis Williams and notes on Morsyma and Caenotilla (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Pan-Pacific Entomologist, 83: 95–100.UAES no. 7813.
 
30. Pitts, J.P., *J.S. Wilson, and F.D. Parker. 2007.The spider wasps of Fiji (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae). Occasional Papers of the Bishop Museum, 91: 3–15. UAES no. 7818.
 
31. Pitts, J.P., M.S. Wasbauer and C.D. von Dohlen. 2006. Preliminary morphological analysis of relationships between the spider wasp subfamilies (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae): revisiting an old problem. Zoologica Scripta, 35: 63–84.
 
32. *Pilgrim, E.M. and J.P. Pitts. 2006. A molecular method for associating the dimorphic sexes of velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society, 79: 222–231.
 
33. Pitts, J.P. 2006. Review of the Sphaeropthalma imperialis species-group (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae), with descriptions of females and taxonomic notes. Zootaxa, 1248: 1–20.
 
34. Pitts, J.P., J.V. McHugh and K.G. Ross. 2005. Cladistic analysis of the fire ants of the Solenopsis saevissima species-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zoologica Scripta, 34: 493–505.
 
35. Pitts, J.P. 2005. Description of a new species in the Sphaeropthalma pensylvanica species-group(Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Zootaxa, 1050: 39–43.
 
36. Pitts, J.P.and F.D. Parker. 2005. Description of the female, redescription of the male, and host associations of the Nearctic species Sphaeropthalma jacala Schuster (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Zootaxa 1011: 1–10.
 
37. Pitts, J.P., F.D. Parker, and T.L. Pitts-Singer. 2004. A review of the Sphaeropthalma uro species-group (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae), with taxonomic changes. Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society, 77: 223–234.
 
38. Manley, D.G. and J. P. Pitts. 2004. Two new black species of Dasymutilla (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) from Texas and California. Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 77: 644–649.
 
39. Yang Zhong-qi, Sun Jiang-hua, and J. P. Pitts. 2004. First discovery of the family Tanaostigmatidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) from China with a description of a new gall-making species utilizing kudzu leaves. Journal of Entomological Science, 39: 279–280.
 
40. Pitts, J.P. and D.G. Manley. 2004. Review of Lomachaeta Mickel (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) of North and Central America. Zootaxa, 474: 1–27.
 
41. V.J. Tepedino and J.P. Pitts. 2003. A host record for Dasymutilla stevensi Mickel from Capitol Reef National Park, Utah. Pan-Pacific Entomologist, 79: 256–257.
 
42. *Arneson, L. and Pitts, J.P. 2003. Host records for Dasymutilla aureola and D. vestita (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) from northeastern California. Pan-Pacific Entomologist, 79: 245–246. 
 
43. Pitts, J.P. 2003. Schusterphotopsis, a new genus of Sphaeropthalmini (Mutillidae: Sphaeropthalminae) from California, with notes on the closely related genera Acrophotopsis Schuster and Dilophotopsis Schuster clade. Zootaxa, 333: 1–7.
 
44. Pitts, J.P. 2003. First host record of Dilophotopsis (Mutillidae: Sphaeropthalminae). Journal of Entomological Science, 38: 485–486.
 
45. Pitts, J.P. and F.D. Parker. 2003. Description of the female and larval stage of Odontophotopsis succinea Viereck(Hymenoptera: Mutillidae), with a new synonymy and notes on the species. Zootaxa 137: 1–10.
 
46. Pitts, J.P. and J.V. McHugh. 2002. Revision of Acrophotopsis (Mutillidae: Sphaeropthalminae), with a new species from Baja California. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 11: 363–374.
 
47. Manley, D. G. and J. P. Pitts. 2002. Key to the genera and subgenera of Mutillidae of America North of Mexico with description of a new genus. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 11: 72–101.
 
48. Pitts, J.P. and D.G. Manley. 2002. Description of the females of Stethophotopsis Pitts and Photopsioides Schuster (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 104: 672–679.
 
49. Pitts, J. P., E.H. Tilgner, and M.J. Dalusky. 2002. New host records for Perilampus hyalinus (Hymenoptera: Perilampidae) and Phasmophaga antennalis (Diptera: Tachinidae). Journal of Entomological Science, 37: 128–129.
 
50. Pitts, J.P. and T.L. Pitts-Singer. 2001. New host record for Pseudacteon crawfordi (Diptera: Phoridae). Florida Entomologist, 84: 310.
 
51. Pitts, J.P. and R.W. Matthews. 2000. Description of the larval stage of Sphaeropthalma pensylvanica (Mutillidae: Hymenoptera). Journal of Entomological Science, 35: 334–337.
 
52. Pitts, J.P. 2000. Review of Bordontilla Fritz and Martinez (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Entomological News, 111: 32–38.
 
53. Pitts, J.P. and J.V. McHugh. 2000. Stethophotopsis, a new genus of Sphaeropthalminae (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) from Arizona. Journal of Hymenoptera Research, 9: 29–33.
            
In Press
1. *Rodriguez, J., and J. P. Pitts. 2010. The genus Psorthaspis (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) in Colombia. Caldasia.
 
2. *Wilson, J.S. and J.P. Pitts. A Pleistocene between the Nearctic’s Mediterranean and desert regions in the Sphaeropthalma unicolor species-complex (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Insect Conservation and Diversity. UAES no. 8174.
 
3. *Williams, K.A., D.G. Manley, *E.M. Pilgrim, C. von Dohlen and J.P. Pitts. Confusing coloration has led to oversplitting in the Dasymutilla bioculata species-group (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae). Systematic Entomology. UAES no. 8203.
 
Submitted
1. Tanner, D., J. Gonzalez, R.W. Matthews, and J. P. Pitts. Phylogenetics of Melittobia (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. UAES no. 8206.
 
2. *Wilson, J. S., *K. A. Williams, **C. F. Gunnell, and J. P. Pitts. Preliminary phylogeography of the widespread, arid-adapted antlion Brachynemurus sackeni Hagen (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae). Psyche: A Journal of Entomology. UAES no. 8207.
 
3. *Wilson, J. S., **S. Clark and J. P. Pitts. Phylogeography and cryptic species for the Sphaeropthalma arota species-complex (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae).Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution.