Caenocholax fenyesi 0
Caenocholax fenyesi
This record describes Caenocholax fenyesi (species). Recorded family: Myrmecolacidae. Recorded order: Strepsiptera.
Identification and Appearance
Aedeagus: shield-shaped with a pair of lateral spines and a ventral projection. Male strepsipterans have an adult life that lasts only a few hours, and in order to successfully reproduce they must locate a mate that remains an endoparasite. Cook & Derr (2004). The family Myrmecolacidae exhibits an extreme form of parasitism where males develop in ants, and the females in grasshoppers, crickets and mantids. This feature, together with the fact that the sexes exhibit extreme dimorphism in Strepsiptera, means that it is impossible to match females and males morphologically. The males and females of only two species of this family have been described so far, and even these matches might be conjectural. Among the 108 Myrmecolacidae described, the ant hosts of only eight species of males are known. The rest of the species have been described from free-living males that have been caught in traps. (Kathirithamby & Johnston 2004).
Wikipedia reference for Caenocholax fenyesi: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caenocholax_fenyesi.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Strepsiptera (Twisted-winged Insects)
- Family
- Myrmecolacidae (Myrmecolacidae 0)
- Genus
- Caenocholax (Caenocholax 0)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas; Mexico per Kathirithamby & Taylor (2005). South Carolina was added to this sp. range by Kathirithamby et al. (2007).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Caenocholax fenyesi texensis Kathirithamby & Johnston 2004 (Distribution: USA: Texas) Caenocholax fenyesi waloffi Kathirithamby & Johnston 2003 (Distribution: Mexico: Veracruz)
Life History
The life history of male strepsipterans is somewhat similar to hymenopterous parasitoids. One difference in strepsipteran life history is that the first instar larva is responsible for host selection (Kathirithamby 1989); as opposed to host searching by the female in Hymenoptera. After the host has been infected, larval and pupal development of male parasitoids in the two orders follow a similar pattern of endoparasitic developmental stages, pupation and the emergence of a free-living adult. Superparasitism is rare in many species of Strepsiptera (Kathirithamby 1989), but it does occur in some species, including at least one species in the family Myrmecolacidae (Kathirithamby 1992).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Caenocholax fenyesi Pierce, 1909
About Twisted-winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Strepsiptera, the group containing Caenocholax fenyesi. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Strepsiptera (twisted-wing parasites) includes ~600 described species. They are among the most bizarre insects - males are tiny free-flying adults that live only a few hours, while females of most species are permanent endoparasites that never leave their host's body.
Ecological role of the group
Female Strepsiptera are essentially reduced to reproductive sacs inside their host insect. Males have only hind wings for flight - their forewings are reduced to tiny club-shaped structures. Their evolutionary position has been debated for over a century.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Strepsiptera parasitize other insects including bees, wasps, and leafhoppers. Their unique biology makes them valuable subjects for studying parasite-host evolution and extreme sexual dimorphism.
Recorded sources for this group: Entomological research, parasitology studies. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Frequently Asked Questions About Caenocholax fenyesi 0
What is Caenocholax fenyesi 0?
Caenocholax fenyesi 0 (Caenocholax fenyesi) is a species in the family Myrmecolacidae, within the order Strepsiptera.
How do you identify Caenocholax fenyesi 0?
Aedeagus: shield-shaped with a pair of lateral spines and a ventral projection.
Where is Caenocholax fenyesi 0 found?
Range: Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas; Mexico per Kathirithamby & Taylor (2005). South Carolina was added to this sp. range by Kathirithamby et al. (2007).
What does Caenocholax fenyesi 0 eat?
The diet of the Caenocholax fenyesi 0 includes Caenocholax fenyesi texensis Kathirithamby & Johnston 2004 (Distribution: USA: Texas) Caenocholax fenyesi waloffi Kathirithamby & Johnston 2003 (Distribution: Mexico: Veracruz).
What is the life cycle of a Caenocholax fenyesi 0?
The life history of male strepsipterans is somewhat similar to hymenopterous parasitoids. One difference in strepsipteran life history is that the first instar larva is responsible for host selection (Kathirithamby 1989); as opposed to host searching by the female in Hymenoptera. After the host has been infected, larval and pupal development of male parasitoids in the two orders follow a similar pattern of endoparasitic developmental stages, pupation and the emergence of a free-living adult. Superparasitism is rare in many species of Strepsiptera (Kathirithamby 1989), but it does occur in some species, including at least one species in the family Myrmecolacidae (Kathirithamby 1992).