Ant Strepsipteran vs Leafhopper Strepsipteran
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Ant Strepsipteran | Leafhopper Strepsipteran |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Myrmecolax incautus | Halictophagus calcaratus |
| Order | Strepsiptera | Strepsiptera |
| Family | Myrmecolacidae | Halictophagidae |
| Size | 2-4 mm (males) | 1.0-2.0 mm (males) |
| Habitat | Underground | Farmland |
| Diet | Parasites | Parasites |
| Regions | South America, Neotropics | North America, Europe |
| Conservation | Data Deficient | Not Evaluated |
Ant Strepsipteran
A remarkable strepsipteran that parasitizes ants. Males parasitize ants while females parasitize crickets or grasshoppers, a unique life history involving two different host orders.
Did You Know?
The two sexes parasitize hosts from completely different insect orders, a phenomenon found nowhere else in the animal kingdom.
Leafhopper Strepsipteran
A tiny strepsipteran that parasitizes leafhoppers in the family Cicadellidae. The first-instar larvae are among the smallest known insects.
Did You Know?
The first-instar triungulin larva is only about 0.2 mm long, making it one of the smallest free-living insects.