Paragioxenos Ogloblin, 1923

Benda, Daniel, Pohl, Hans, Nakase, Yuta, Beutel, Rolf & Straka, Jakub, 2022, A generic classification of Xenidae (Strepsiptera) based on the morphology of the female cephalothorax and male cephalotheca with a preliminary checklist of species, ZooKeys 1093, pp. 1-134 : 1

Paragioxenos Ogloblin, 1923

Paragioxenos Ogloblin, 1923: 46. Type species: Paragioxenos brachypterus Ogloblin, 1923, by original designation.

Diagnosis of female cephalothorax.

Differing from other Xenidae in following characters. Head and prothorax completely separated by birth opening on ventral side (Fig. 8A ). Mandibles distinctly protruding from mandibular capsule; angle of mandibles 75°. Dorsal labral field elliptic, ~ 2 × wider than long in midline, distinctly protuberant, straight (Fig. 8A ). Conspicuous swelling present on prosternum (Fig. 8A ), similar to some Paraxenos spp.

Description of female cephalothorax.

Shape and coloration. Nearly triangular, slightly wider than long, length 1.68 mm, width 1.82 mm. Anterior cephalic margin very slightly protruding anteriorly. Thorax distinctly widening posteriorly. Coloration comprising multiple brown shades forming distinct pattern, mostly dark (Fig. 7C, D ).

Head capsule. Approximately ⅓ as long as entire cephalothorax including lateral cephalic extensions. Coloration mostly brown, including sclerotized labial area and strongly sclerotized mandible; dorsal labral field pale. Clypeal and labral area separated, the former slightly protruding anteriorly, forming inconspicuous clypeal lobe; surface of clypeal area slightly wrinkled; sensilla present. Border between clypeal and frontal regions quite indistinct. Cuticle of frontal region slightly wrinkled. Segmental border between head and prothorax indistinct dorsally; on ventral side completely separated by birth opening (Fig. 8A ).

Supra-antennal sensillary field. More or less distinctly delimited by furrow on mesal side (Fig. 8B ).

Antenna. Presence or absence of vestige of antennae not verified.

Labrum. Ventral labral field elliptic, not protruding; dorsal field elliptic, ~ 2 × wider than long in midline, distinctly protuberant, straight (Fig. 8A ). Presence or absence of setae not verified.

Mandible. Anteroventrally directed, distinctly protruding from mandibular capsule, nearly reaching or projecting slightly beyond anterior edge of head (Fig. 8A ). Mandibular bulge distinctly raised, with sensilla. Mandibular tooth conspicuous.

Maxilla. Anteriorly directed, distinctly prominent, strongly sclerotized. Bases wide, connected in midline. Apical portion not projecting beyond mandible. Presence or absence of vestige of palp not verified. Submaxillary groove absent.

Labium. Triangular, sclerotized, and flat, located between maxillae, delimited anteriorly by mouth opening and posteriorly by connected maxillae.

Mouth opening. Fissure-shaped, straight medially, curved laterally, with sclerotized margin.

Thorax and abdominal segment I. Two longitudinal ventral furrows present mesally over whole length of thorax, slightly widening posteriorly. Pro-mesothoracic and meso-metathoracic borders indistinct. Border between metathorax and abdomen formed by ridge on dorsal side, indistinct on ventral side. Cuticle of thoracic segments dark laterally, less pigmented mesally between longitudinal furrows. Dorsal surface mostly with uniformly brown coloration except for lateral most region. Prosternum with pointed swelling but lacking extension (Fig. 8A ). Setae and cuticular spines on lateral parts of abdominal segment I not examined.

Spiracles. Situated on posterior third of cephalothorax, slightly elevated, with anterolateral orientation.

Diagnosis of male cephalotheca.

No male cephalotheca was examined (absent in Ogloblin’s type material in NMPC).

Phylogenetic relationships.

Unknown.

Diversity and distribution.

Monotypic, restricted to Australia.

Host.

Paragia spp. ( Vespidae : Masarinae ).

Figures

Figure 7. Paragioxenos brachypterus Ogloblin, host, female, cephalothorax, photomicrographs A Paragia cf. decipiens Shuckard stylopized by female of P. brachypterus, lateral view B detail of host abdomen with adult female inside C ventral side of cephalothorax D dorsal side of cephalothorax.

Figure 8. Paragioxenos brachypterus Ogloblin, anterior part of female cephalothorax, photomicrographs A anterior part of cephalothorax, ventral side B Anterior part of cephalothorax, dorsal side. Abbreviations: bo - birth opening, dlf - dorsal field of labral area, fssf - furrow of supra-antennal sensillary field, md - mandible, ps - prosternal swelling, sbcf - segmental border between clypeus and frontal region.