This test fails because instead of being [1] the node id is [a-1]. In other words the first arg fixture created seems to be in 'auto use' mode.
import pytest
from pytest_cases import param_fixtures
arg = param_fixtures('arg', ['a', 'b'])
@pytest.mark.parametrize("arg", [1])
def test_reference2(arg, request):
assert '[1]' in request.node.nodeid
Note that this does not happen with param_fixture.