Strepsiptera

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Strepsiptera

an order of insects containing very small parasitic individuals. The larvae parasitize bees and plant bugs; the females are wingless endoparasites, the males winged (hind wings only). Parasitized insects are said to be stylopised (after Stylops, one of the parasitizing genera) and cause the host sex organs to degenerate.

Collins Dictionary of Biology, 3rd ed. © W. G. Hale, V. A. Saunders, J. P. Margham 2005

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References in periodicals archive ?

There may be implications for biological control based on the conclusion from this study that emerging strepsipterans appear to be more common in larger hosts than would be expected in a random sampling of the general population.

fenyesi does not select larger larvae and pupae to stylopize, then the strepsipterans developing in smaller ant workers may have a decreased ability to reach the adult stage.

-- A positive size correlation exists between the emerging adult male strepsipteran parasite Caenocholax fenyesi Pierce and its host Solenopsis invicta Buren.

Size relationship between adult male Caenocholax fenyesi (Strepsiptera: Myrmecolacidae) and its host, Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)