Xenos

Kathirithamby, Jeyaraney & Hughes, David P., 2006, Description and biological notes of the first species of Xenos (Strepsiptera: Stylopidae) parasitic in Polistes carnifex F. (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in Mexico, Zootaxa 1104, pp. 35-45 : 38

Key to males of the genus Xenos from the Neotropics

Out of a total of 18 species of Xenos described so far from the Neotropics, only 6 males are known, the rest of the species were described from females. A key to only 5 males is given below since X. bonairensis was described without its head or prothorax ( Brèthes 1923).

1. Palpus of maxilla absent................................................................................................ 2

­ Palpus of maxilla present .............................................................................................. 4

2. Maxilla as long as mandibles ........................................................ occidentalis ( Brazil)

­ Maxilla shorter than mandibles ..................................................................................... 3

3. Maxilla a fourth shorter than mandibles; of equal width throughout ending with a blunt apex ................................................................................................ fluminensis ( Brazil)

­ Maxilla an eighth shorter than mandibles; basal third wide and narrows to tip.............. .................................................................................................................. zikani ( Brazil)

4. Basal segment and palpus of maxillae of equal length ................... indespectus ( Brazil)

­ Basal segment longer than palpus ................................................................................ 5

5. Basal segment of maxilla two thirds the length of palpus; palpus does not fit into socket in basal segment .......................................................................bohlsi ( Paraguay)

­ Basal segment of maxilla twice the length of palpus; palpus fits into a socket in the basal segment ......................................................................... hamiltoni sp. n. ( Mexico)