XENOS - MALE BIONOMY

XENOS - MALE BIONOMY

Last Xenos pictures I would like to show to insect fans here :)

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1. The emergence of male puparium in adult Polistes (below right) is connected with hemolymph bleeding beside already ripening one (above left).
2. After the parasite emergence, the body fluids start to evaporate via the holes which reamain visible until the wasp dies.
3. Male parasite (3 mm) captured in flight.
4. Mating with female which remains inside the wasp all the life.

For further information see eg:
http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20o?search=Strepsiptera
http://tolweb.org/Strepsiptera
http://www.arthropods.de/insecta/strepsiptera/stylopidae/xenosVesparum01.htm

Previous pictures: