Checklist of - Entomological Society of Canada

Halictophagidae
Order Strepsiptera twisted-winged parasites
S.B. Peclt
In Canada 11 species of Strepsiptera are now
known in three of the nine families recognized
around the world. These species are distributed in
Southern Canada. Another 10 species occur in the
northern tier of the United States and may eventually
be found in Canada. Many taxa are known
only throrrgh adult females.
The biology of this endoparasitic group is highly
unusual. Studies on species similar to those in
Canada suggest the following. The frrst-instar triungulin-like
larvae are free-living at birth but
immedial;ely seek and parasitize immature specimens
of lvgaeid bugs, various leafhoppers and their
relatives, and Andreno solitary bees. The heteromorphic
larvae mature in the host insect and
pupate there. Adult female strepsipterans remain
larva-like and in the host. Adult males are winged
and live r)nly a day and an evening or two, during
which tinre they actively search for females. After
the female has been inseminated, eggs develop and
hatch inside her. A thousand or more larvae may
then leave the female, to seek new hosts and begin
the cycle again.
Adults may be reared from parasitized hosts.
Males may be attracted to ultraviolet black light
traps or may be lured by placing virgin females (in
their hosts) in frnely screened cages.
The systematic position of this group is becoming
clear. It has been grouped near the similarly
endoparasitic Rhipiphoridae in general works on
beetles (Arnett 1968, Crowson 1981, White 1983).
Extensive morphological studies by Kinzelbach
(1971) and Kathirithamby (1989) suggest that
strepsipterans are the sister group to the beetles as
a whole. They are then ranked as a separate order
most clearly related to the beetles (Kinzelbach 1971,
Lawrence and Newton 1982, Kathirithamby 1989).
Overviews of the group in North Arrrerica are
found in Bohart (1941), Kinzelbach (1$71), and
Luna de Carvalho and Kogan (1990). The classification
used here follows Kathirithamby (1980).
BC (2);AB (1); SK (3); ON (2);PQ (2);NS (1)
Genus LOANIA Kinzelbach
L. canadensis Kinzelbach
Suborder Stylopidia
Family CORIOXENIDAE
Subfamily CORIOXENINAE
ON
Genus HALICTOPHAGUS Bohart
Agalliaphagus Pterce
Anthericomma Pierce
Bruesia Perkins
Cyrtocaraxenos Pierce
Dacyrtocara Pietce
Dioxocera Pietce
Diozocera Pierce
Megalechthrus Perkins
Membracixenos Pierce
NeocholaxPierce
Pentac{.adocera Pierce
Pe n log'qm mqPft i1a Pierce
Pentaxocera Pierce
Pentazocera Pietce
Pentozoe Pierce
Pseudopatella Bohaft
Pyrilloxenos Pierce
Family HALICTOPHAGIDAE
Subfamily IIALICTOPHAGINAE
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