H. Pohl et R. Kinzelbach, First record of a female stylopid (Strepsiptera : ?Myrmecolacidae) parasite of a prionomyrmecine ant (Hymenoptera : Formicidae) in Baltic amber, IN SYST EVO, 32(2), 2001, pp. 143-146
A female stylopid parasitising an ant of the genus Prionomyrmex (Hymenopter
a: Formicidae) is described and illustrated from Baltic amber (Eocene, 39-5
0 million years old). This new fossil is tentatively considered as a plesio
morphic member of the Myrmecolacidae. Recent Myrmecolacidae parasitise dual
hosts: males parasitise Formicidae, while females parasitise either Mantod
ea or Ensifera. This is the first record of a female stylopid parasitising
Formicidae. The phylogenetic relationships of the Myrmecolacidae and the or
igin of their unique dual host relationship are discussed.