A new species of Halictophagus (Insecta: Strepsiptera: Halictophagidae) from Texas, and a checklist of Strepsiptera from the United States and Canada Author Kathirithamby, Jeyaraney Author Taylor, Steven J. text Zootaxa 2005 1056 1 18 journal article 10.5281/zenodo.170109 3b30e136-a327-4637-872a-82693f2775e3 1175­5326 170109 Halictophagus forthoodiensis Kathirithamby & Taylor , new species Type . Holotype ♂: USA , Texas, Coryell County, Fort Hood, UTM zone 14 R (NAD 1983) 607873mE 3451198mN, malaise trap ( 30.9.04 10am– 1.10.04 2pm. J. Kathirithamby, S. J. Taylor, C. E. Pekins (deposited in Oxford Museum of Natural History, Oxford). Locality Description : Vegetation at the site was savannah grassland ( Fig. 1 ) dominated by King Ranch bluestem ( Bothriochloa ischaemum ), side­oats grama ( Bouteloua curtipendula ), Texas winter grass ( Nassella leucotrica ), and silver bluestem ( Bothriochloa laguroides ) with scattered plateau live oak ( Quercus fusiformis ) mottes; drainage from a sediment control pond outlet, just upslope of the malaise trap, was dominated by sedge ( Carex spp.) and short ragweed ( Ambrosia artemisiifolia ). FIGURE 1. Malaise trap at type locality for Halictophagus forthoodiensis Kathirithamby & Taylor , at Fort Hood, Coryell County, Texas. Description. Male. Total length, 1.12mm . Head width, 0.36mm , head length, 0.06mm . Antennae 7­segmented with 5 flagellomeres on segments 3–7. Scape and 2nd segment of equal length ( 0.03mm ), flagellomeres on segments 3–5 (3rd & 4th = 0.21mm , 5th = 0.19mm , 6th & 7th = 0.13mm ) ( Fig. 2 a). Mandibles short ( 0.05mm ) not meeting medially. Basal segment of maxilla one third length of palpi (base = 0.03mm , palpi = 0.09mm ) ( Fig 2 b). Prenotum length, 0.05mm ; scutellum narrower ( 0.10mm ) than postlumbium ( 0.13mm ); postnoum long ( 0.55mm ) and longer than rest of mesothorax ( Fig 2 c). Wing length, 0.89mm . R2 half the length of R3; R5; MA and CuA touching wing margin ( Fig 2 d). FIGURE 2. Halictohagus forthoodiensis Kathirithamby & Taylor, adult male. a. antennae; b. mandible (left) maxilla (right); c. thorax (dorsal view); d. wing; e. foreleg with pseudoplatella on tibia; f. tarsus on mid leg; g. tarsus on hind leg; h. lateral view of VIII, IX and X abdominal segments. Scale 1a, b, e­h = 0.2mm ; c, d = 0.3mm . ae=aedeagus; a3=antennal segment III; cx=coxa; md=mandible; mn= mentum; mx=maxilla; pc=parascutum; ps=pseudopatella; psl=postlumbium; psn=postnotum; sc=scutum; sct=scutellum; st=sternite; t=tergite; ti=tibia; tf= trochanterofemur; ts=tarsus; vi­x=6th ­10th abdominal segments. Wing veination follows standard notation. Legs: Fore coxa as long as femur ( 0.12mm ), tibia (0.0.8mm) with pseudoplatella ( Fig. 2 e), 1st tarsomere large and round ( Fig 2 f); mid femur slightly longer ( 0.15mm ) than tibia ( 0.13mm ); hind femur and tibia of equal length ( 0.15mm ) ( Fig. 2 g). Fine hairs on tibia and tarsus. Projection on VIIIth abdominal sternite large ( 0.11mm ) ( Fig 2 h). Abdominal segment IX long ( 0.15mm ), and Xth nearly as long ( 0.12mm ). Aedeagus, as most other strepsipterans, crescent shaped with pointed apex. Female: unknown. Host: unknown. Diagnosis. The pseudopatella on the fore­tibia is present only in three species of Halictophagus described so far: H. forthoodiensis sp. n. , H. mackayi Bohart (1937) from Canada and H. languedoci Abdul­Nour (1969) from France . H. forthoodiensis differs from H. mackayi and H. languedoci by the shape of the anterior margin of the head which on dorsal aspect is straight and not v­shaped; mandibles very short, not meeting medially; maxilla with a very short basal segment and long palpi (curved upwards); antennal flabella on segments 3 and 4 distinctly longer 6 and 7, 5 intermediate in length; postlumbium large and two thirds longer than width (at widest point); 1st tarsomere on foreleg rounded; VIII abdominal sternite with a ventral projection, and Xth and IXth segments both extend equidistant. Etymology. This species is named for the type locality, Fort Hood, Texas.