Oxyrrhexis

Förster, 1869

Species Guides

Oxyrrhexis carbonator

Oxyrrhexis is a of ichneumon wasps in the Pimplinae, tribe Ephialtini, belonging to the Polysphincta genus-group. The genus comprises four described worldwide. All species are koinobiont ectoparasitoids specialized in attacking spiders, primarily of the Theridiidae, though one record documents of a titanoecid spider. The genus was first recorded from Egypt in 2017.

Oxyrrhexis by (c) Tyler Bishop, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Tyler Bishop. Used under a CC-BY license.

Bulletin - United States National Museum (1960) (19886751864) by United States National Museum;
Smithsonian Institution;

United States. Dept. of the Interior. Used under a No restrictions license.

Oxyrrhexis.carbonator.-.lindsey by James K. Lindsey. Used under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Oxyrrhexis: //ˌɒksɪˈrɛksɪs//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Members of Oxyrrhexis can be distinguished from other Polysphincta -group genera by morphological characters associated with the Pimplinae and Ephialtini tribe. Specific diagnostic features for the genus are not detailed in available sources. -level identification requires examination of morphological characters described in original species descriptions.

Images

Habitat

Ground-living environments, based on the spider Enoplognatha serratosignata being ground-living. associations likely follow those of their theridiid spider hosts.

Distribution

West Palaearctic (two ); Norway (type locality for O. zephyrus); Alaska (O. carbonator texana); Finland, Sweden, Norway (O. carbonator nominate subspecies); Egypt (first record for , O. carbonator). GBIF records indicate presence in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Host Associations

Enoplognatha serratosignata - Theridiidae; confirmed of O. zephyrus in Norway
Steatoda bipunctata - Theridiidae; confirmed of O. carbonator in northern Europe based on extensive reared material from Finland, Sweden, and Norway
Nurscia albomaculata - Titanoecidae; first record for Polysphincta -group, documented from Egypt

Life Cycle

Koinobiont ectoparasitoid development on spider . The develops externally on the living host, which continues to feed and grow until the parasitoid completes development. Cocoons are formed after the host is consumed.

Behavior

Specialized attacking spiders. Exhibits koinobiont ectoparasitoid lifestyle, allowing the to remain active during parasitoid development.

Ecological Role

regulating of theridiid spiders. Functions as a natural agent of spider populations in ground-living and associated .

Similar Taxa

Other Polysphincta genus-group generaShares koinobiont ectoparasitoid lifestyle on spiders; distinguished by morphological characters of the Pimplinae and Ephialtini tribe

Misconceptions

Earlier literature records of Oxyrrhexis carbonator parasitizing spider other than Theridiidae and non-spider are considered erroneous based on extensive reared material from northern Europe.

More Details

Taxonomic placement

Belongs to the Polysphincta -group within the Pimplinae, tribe Ephialtini

Host specificity

Strongly specialized on Theridiidae spiders, with one documented exception (Titanoecidae). The Egyptian record of O. carbonator from Nurscia albomaculata represents an unexpected and the first such record for the entire Polysphincta -group