Two new species of Xenos (Strepsiptera: Xenidae), parasites of social wasps of the genus Mischocyttarus (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in the New World
Benda Daniel, Pohl Hans, Beutel Rolf G., Straka Jakub
Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 62(1): 185-195, 2022
Published online: 8th October 2022
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Abstract: Two new species of Strepsiptera of the genus Xenos Rossi, 1793 (Xenidae) from
the New World are described. Both are endoparasites of social wasps of the genus
Mischocyttarus Saussure, 1853 (Vespidae: Mischocyttarini). Xenos bicolor Benda
& Straka, sp. nov., parasitizes Mischocyttarus navajo Bequaert, 1933,
Mischocyttarus flavitarsis (Saussure, 1854), and Mischocyttarus pallidipectus
(Smith, 1857), whereas Xenos pallens Benda & Straka, sp. nov., is a parasite
of Mischocyttarus costaricensis Richards, 1945 (Vespidae: Polistinae:
Mischocyttarini). Diagnoses and descriptions of female cephalothoraces are
presented for all three species that parasitize species of Mischocyttarus.
Diagnoses and descriptions of male cephalothecae are presented for Xenos bicolor
sp. nov. and Xenos pallens sp. nov. Additionally, a key for Xenos species
parasitic on Mischocyttarus is provided based on characters of the female
cephalothorax and male cephalotheca. Identification of Xenos species based on
external morphology is discussed.
Key words: Strepsiptera, Xenos, Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Mischocyttarus, cephalothorax, cephalotheca, morphology, taxonomy, wasp parasite, wasps, Neotropical Region