Xenomorphia

Xenomorphia is an extinct genus of parasitoid wasp comprising two species: X. resurrecta (the type species) and X. handschini. The generic name is in reference to the parasitic Xenomorph creature starring in the Alien franchise. The wasp's first fossils were discovered in Oligocene (Chattian) aged phosphorite mines located in the former Quercy province of France, the remains of 55 ancient fly (Phoridae) pupae were found preserved with Xenomorphia wasps inside of them, recording a parasitic relationship between the two insects. Along with the two Xenomoprhia wasp species, two other new wasp taxa were identified, Coptera anka, and Palaeortona quercyensis.[1]

Xenomorphia
Temporal range: Chattian
X-ray tomography of X. resurrecta fossils inside host fly pupae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Diapriidae
Tribe: Spilomicrini
Genus: †Xenomorphia
Krogmann, van de Kamp & Schwermann, 2018
Type species
†Xenomorphia resurrecta
Krogmann, van de Kamp & Schwermann, 2018
Species
  • †X. resurrecta Krogmann, van de Kamp & Schwermann, 2018
  • †X. handschini Krogmann, van de Kamp & Schwermann, 2018

References
  1. van de Kamp, Thomas; Schwermann, Achim H.; dos Santos Rolo, Tomy; Lösel, Philipp D.; Engler, Thomas; Etter, Walter; Faragó, Tomáš; Göttlicher, Jörg; Heuveline, Vincent (2018-08-28). "Parasitoid biology preserved in mineralized fossils". Nature Communications. 9 (1): 3325. doi:10.1038/s41467-018-05654-y. ISSN 2041-1723. PMC 6113268. PMID 30154438.
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