American Wasp Xenid vs Protermes Inquiline Termite

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute American Wasp Xenid Protermes Inquiline Termite
Scientific Name Xenos peckii Protermes prorepens
Order Strepsiptera Blattodea
Family Xenidae Termitidae
Size 3.0-5.0 mm (males) 2-4 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Parasites Fungus Feeders
Regions North America East Africa, Southern Africa
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

American Wasp Xenid

A parasite of paper wasps in eastern North America, commonly found in Polistes fuscatus colonies. It dramatically alters host wasp behavior.

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Did You Know?

Up to 40% of paper wasps in some colonies can be parasitized by this twisted-wing parasite.

Protermes Inquiline Termite

A small inquiline termite that lives within the mounds of larger fungus-growing termite species in Africa. Colonies are tiny and discrete, occupying small chambers within the walls of the host mound. Workers feed on fungal material.

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Did You Know?

Inquiline termites like this species are the cuckoos of the termite world, sneaking into other species' elaborate mounds to exploit their resources.