American Wasp Xenid vs Slack Creek Stag Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute American Wasp Xenid Slack Creek Stag Beetle
Scientific Name Xenos peckii Lissotes menalcas
Order Strepsiptera Coleoptera
Family Xenidae Lucanidae
Size 3.0-5.0 mm (males) 12-20mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Parasites Wood Feeders
Regions North America Oceania
Conservation Not Evaluated Endangered

American Wasp Xenid

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

💡

Did You Know?

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

Slack Creek Stag Beetle

A small glossy black stag beetle endemic to Tasmania. Males have modest but distinctly curved mandibles.

💡

Did You Know?

It is found only in a tiny area of northeast Tasmania and is threatened by logging of its old-growth forest habitat.