Rediscovered parasitism of Andrena savignyi Spinola (Hymenoptera, Andrenidae) by Stylops (Strepsiptera, Stylopidae) and revised taxonomic status of the parasite

By

Straka, Jakub
Alqarni, Abdulaziz S.
Jůzová, Kateřina
Hannan, Mohammed
Hinojosa-Diaz, Ismael
Engel, Michael S.

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2015

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

519

Pages

117-139

Subjects

Andrenidae , Anthophila , Apoidea , Morphology , parasitoid , Stylopidae , taxonomy

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.519.6035

 

Abstract

Parasitism of Andrena (Suandrena) savignyi Spinola (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae) by Stylops Kirby (Strepsiptera: Stylopidae) has been recorded only once, and from an individual collected in Egypt almost a century ago, with the parasite described as Stylops savignyi Hofeneder. The recent rediscovery of this Stylops from an individual of A. savignyi permits a reinterpretation of the species and its affinities among other Stylops. The bee was collected at flowers of Zilla spinosa (Turra) Prantl. (Brassicaceae) in Amariah, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Based on DNA barcode sequences from material sampled across Africa, Asia, and Europe, it is apparent that S. savignyi is conspecific with S. nassonowi Pierce, and we accordingly synonymize this name (syn. n.), with the latter representing the senior and valid name for the species. A differential diagnosis is provided for S. nassonowi and the morphology of the female is described, as well as the first instars.