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<p>Strepsipterans of the family Xenidae are obligate endoparasites of wasps, but their regional distributions and host associations remain poorly documented because stylopization can be difficult to detect. Here, we report the first record of the genus <i>Nipponoxenos</i> (Xenidae) from South Korea based on stylopized <i>Vespula</i> hosts recovered from nationwide sugar-attractant trapping. Morphological examination of externally visible diagnostic structures associated with stylopization, together with COI barcoding, confirmed the identity as <i>Nipponoxenos vespularum</i> Kifune &amp; Maeta, 1975. In addition to the previously known host <i>Vespula flaviceps flaviceps</i> Smith, 1870, stylopized individuals were detected in <i>Vespula koreensis</i> Radoszkowski, 1887, establishing a new host record. The stylopization prevalence differed significantly between the two sympatric hosts (i.e., approximately 2.4% in <i>V. koreensis</i> and 0.51% in <i>V. flaviceps flaviceps</i>). Most male strepsipteran records consisted of empty puparia, suggesting that adult males had already emerged before host capture and that trap-derived data may represent a stage- and sex-biased subset of within-colony stylopization. Together, our results expand the known geographic distribution and host range of <i>N. vespularum</i> and provide quantitative evidence that stylopization risk can vary markedly among co-occurring <i>Vespula</i> hosts, with implications for understanding host-associated heterogeneity in social wasp systems.</p>

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Nipponoxenos vespularum in South Korea: a new host record and host-specific stylopization patterns in Vespula

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月30日

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  • Jaehee Kim,
  • Yonghan Ji,
  • Kyoung Sang Cho,
  • Chang-Jun Kim,
  • Moon Bo Choi

摘要

Strepsipterans of the family Xenidae are obligate endoparasites of wasps, but their regional distributions and host associations remain poorly documented because stylopization can be difficult to detect. Here, we report the first record of the genus Nipponoxenos (Xenidae) from South Korea based on stylopized Vespula hosts recovered from nationwide sugar-attractant trapping. Morphological examination of externally visible diagnostic structures associated with stylopization, together with COI barcoding, confirmed the identity as Nipponoxenos vespularum Kifune & Maeta, 1975. In addition to the previously known host Vespula flaviceps flaviceps Smith, 1870, stylopized individuals were detected in Vespula koreensis Radoszkowski, 1887, establishing a new host record. The stylopization prevalence differed significantly between the two sympatric hosts (i.e., approximately 2.4% in V. koreensis and 0.51% in V. flaviceps flaviceps). Most male strepsipteran records consisted of empty puparia, suggesting that adult males had already emerged before host capture and that trap-derived data may represent a stage- and sex-biased subset of within-colony stylopization. Together, our results expand the known geographic distribution and host range of N. vespularum and provide quantitative evidence that stylopization risk can vary markedly among co-occurring Vespula hosts, with implications for understanding host-associated heterogeneity in social wasp systems.