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Issue: Vol. 5646 No. 4: 11 Jun. 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-06-11
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5646.4.5
Page range: 562-574
Abstract views: 67
PDF downloaded: 5

Rediscovery of Myrmecolacidae from China with a new Myrmecolax species and a checklist of Chinese twisted-wing parasite (Insecta: Strepsiptera)

College of Life Sciences; Nanjing Normal University; Nanjing 210023; China
College of Life Sciences; Nanjing Normal University; Nanjing 210023; China
Strepsiptera ant parasite asia biodiversity insect Mantodea

Abstract

Myrmecolacidae is a poorly documented family of Strepsiptera in China, previously only three specimens were gathered from this country. In this study, we describe Myrmecolax aranealis sp. nov. from Yunnan Province, southwestern China, after nearly 40-years hiatus. The new species can be distinguished by: (1) comparatively large body size (2.0 mm), (2) an exceptionally slender flabellum on antennomere III that extends nearly to the apex of antennomere VII, and (3) distinct hindwing venation. In addition, an updated checklist of Chinese Strepsiptera, and a revised taxonomic key to Asian Myrmecolax species are provided.

 

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How to Cite

Zheng, X. & Zhou, C. (2025) Rediscovery of Myrmecolacidae from China with a new Myrmecolax species and a checklist of Chinese twisted-wing parasite (Insecta: Strepsiptera). Zootaxa, 5646 (4), 562–574. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5646.4.5