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

Pages	365-377
DOI	10.37520/aemnp.2025.028
Keywords	Strepsiptera, Xenidae, Brasixenos, Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Agelaia, cephalotheca, cephalothorax, morphology, new species, primary larvae, taxonomy, wasp parasite, wasps, Guatemala, Neotropical Region
Citation	BENDA, Daniel, POHL, Hans, BEUTEL, Rolf, ESCOBEDO-KENEFIC, Natalia, CARDONAS, Edson a STRAKA, Jakub. A new species of Strepsiptera, Brasixenos mikati sp. nov. (Xenidae), a parasite of the highly advanced eusocial wasp Agelaia myrmecophila (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Epiponini). Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae. Prague: National Museum, 2025, 65(2), 365-377. DOI: https://doi.org/10.37520/aemnp.2025.028. ISSN 0374-1036 (print) 1804-6487 (online). Also available from: https://www.nm.cz/en/periodicals/acta-entomologica-musei-nationalis-pragae/65-2/a-new-species-of-strepsiptera-brasixenos-mikati-sp-nov-xenidae-a-parasite-of-the-highly-advanced-eusocial-wasp-agelaia-myrmecophila-hymenoptera-vespidae-epiponini

Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae | 2025/65/2

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.

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