D3156: Review of Lychnocolax (Strepsiptera: Lychnocolacidae) with descriptions of two new species

The genus Lychnocolax is composed of 23 species known only from adult male specimens. The distribution of the genus is mainly Western Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia, and a unique species from Spain. It is not known what hosts are utilized, but it has been assumed to be Formicidae due to Lychnocolax previously being in the family Myrmecolacidae, where males parasitize ants. All species formally in Myrmecolacidae have a four-segmented tarsus without claws, seven segmented antennae with flabellum on third segment, and short fourth antennal segment. However, it was discovered using molecular methods that Lychnocolax was more closely related to other Strepsipteran families than to Myrmecolacidae. Due to this a new family was created, named Lychnocolacidae. During this study Lychnocolax malagasi new species from Madagascar and Lychnocolax tenuicornis new species from New Guinea were described. A supplementary description was provided for Lychnocolax neobritannicus and an accurate description of the antefrons shape for Lychnocolax insularis is provided based on Holotype. New ranges were documented for L.neobritannicus, L.mindanao, L.mindoro, and L.redinhai. Checklist and key to all species of Lychnocolax was created.