First host record and description of female Halictophagus calcaratus Pasteels (Strepsiptera: Insecta) from South Africa

Abstract

The strepsipteran, Halictophagus calcaratus, was described from South Africa by Pasteels in 1958, but no host record/s or females were included. Here we record that H. calcaratus parasitizes the cicadellid, Molopopterus theae Theron 1978, an important pest of the commercially produced shrub, Aspalathus linearis (Fabaceae), from which ‘Rooibos’ tea is produced. We provide a redescription of the male and a description of the female and the male cephalotheca. A checklist of South African Strepsiptera is included

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