A new species of Strepsiptera, Brasixenos mikati sp. nov. (Xenidae), a parasite of the highly advanced eusocial wasp Agelaia myrmecophila (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Epiponini)

Abstract: Brasixenos mikati Benda & Straka sp. nov., a new species of Strepsiptera of the genus Brasixenos Kogan & Oliveira, 1966 (Xenidae) from southern Guatemala, is described based on the female cephalothorax, male cephalotheca and the first instar larvae. It represents the first species described from the swarm-founding wasp of the genus Agelaia Lepeletier, 1836 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Epiponini). A total of 164 individuals of Agelaia myrmecophila (Ducke, 1905) were collected during flying out from a single nest. Of the total number of emerging wasps, 13% (21 individuals) were parasitised. Diagnoses and descriptions of the female cephalothorax, male cephalotheca, and the first instar larvae are presented, and identification based on external morphology is discussed.

Key words: Strepsiptera, Xenidae, Brasixenos, Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Agelaia, cephalotheca, cephalothorax, morphology, new species, primary larvae, taxonomy, wasp parasite, wasps, Guatemala, Neotropical Region