Tuesday, September 12, 2023

[Entomology • 2023] Brasixenos mesoamericanus • A New Species of Brasixenos Kogan & Oliveira, 1966 (Strepsiptera: Xenidae) from Mexico


Brasixenos mesoamericanus
 Quintos-Andrade, Valenzuela-González, Palmeros-Sánchez & Torres-Moreno, 2023

 
Abstract
The first record of the genus Brasixenos Kogan & Oliveira is presented for Mexico with the description of Brasixenos mesoamericanus, a species found in localities from central Veracruz state. The males of this species are characterized by the mouthparts shape, wing venation, and genitalia. The females are identified by their reduced size and the mandible morphology. Polybia plebeja is identified as the host of this species. The biology and distribution of Brasixenos, and challenges in the study of this genus in the Neotropical region are discussed.

Keywords: Strepsiptera, Endoparasitism, Epiponini, Neotropics, Polybia, Stylopidia





Gerardo Quintos-Andrade, Jorge E. Valenzuela-González, Beatriz Palmeros-Sánchez and Raymundo Torres-Moreno. 2023. A New Species of Brasixenos Kogan & Oliveira, 1966 (Strepsiptera: Xenidae) from Mexico.  Zootaxa. 5343(4); 386-394. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5343.4.6