Paraxenos krombeini Kifune & Hirashima, 1987

Benda, Daniel, Pohl, Hans, Nakase, Yuta, Beutel, Rolf & Straka, Jakub, 2023, A new species of the genus Paraxenos Saunders, 1872 (Strepsiptera: Xenidae) from Bembix digger wasps (Hymenoptera: Bembicidae) and a redescription of Paraxenos hungaricus (Székessy, 1955), European Journal of Taxonomy 885 (1), pp. 134-155 : 149-150

Paraxenos krombeini Kifune & Hirashima, 1987

Fig. 7

Paraxenos krombeini Kifune & Hirashima, 1987: 155 .

Diagnosis

Female cephalothorax

Differing from P. arabicus sp. nov. and P. hungaricus in several characters. Mandible projects beyond anterior edge of head capsule (md, Fig 7A ), versus enclosed in mandibular capsule in P. arabicus and P. hungaricus . Maxilla triangular, similar to that of P. hungaricus , but pointed apically (mx, Fig. 7A ). Maxilla not overlapping or touching mandible. Labial area between maxillae wide (lba, Fig. 7A ). Dorsal labral field distinctly arcuate as in P. arabicus . Clypeal lobe distinctly protruding from head capsule as in P. arabicus versus slightly protruding in P. hungaricus .

Material examined

Holotype SRI LANKA • ♀ on slide; Ratmalana airport; 19–21 Jan. 1975; K.V. Krombein, P.B. Karunaratne, P. Fernando and N.V.T.A. Weragoda leg.; host: Bembix orientalis (Handlirsch, 1893) ; KUMC.

Description

Female cephalothorax (modified from Kifune & Hirashima 1987)

SHAPE AND COLORATION. Cephalothorax brown, wider than long, trapezoidal; anterior margin of oral portion (clypeal lobe) roundly protruding. Length and maximum width of cephalothorax 1.5–1.6 mm and 1.7–2.0 mm, respectively. Width of abdominal constriction 1.3–1.6 mm. Cephalothoraces of specimens from tristylopized hosts smaller than those from monostylopized hosts. Mandibles almost trapezoidal; each with sharp but short anteriorly directed tooth. Distal part of mandibles projects beyond anterior edge of head capsule. Maxillae triangular, apically pointed or very slightly rounded; not overlapping or touching mandibles. Spiracles dorsally oriented, placed roughly at basal third of cephalothorax.

Host

Bembix orientalis Handlirsch, 1893 ( Kifune & Hirashima 1987).

Phylogenetic relationships

Unknown.

Distribution

Sri Lanka.

Figures

Fig. 7.Paraxenos krombeini Kifune &Hirashima, 1987,holotype, ♀ (KUMC), cephalothorax.A.Anterior part of cephalothorax, ventral side. B. Anterior part of cephalothorax, dorsal side. Abbreviations: lba = labial area; md = mandible; mx = vestige of maxilla.