Bee Stylops vs Sand Wasp Strepsipteran

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Bee Stylops Sand Wasp Strepsipteran
Scientific Name Stylops pacificus Paraxenos lugubris
Order Strepsiptera Strepsiptera
Family Stylopidae Xenidae
Size 2.0-3.5 mm (males) 2.5-4.0 mm (males)
Habitat Farmland Beaches & Coastal
Diet Parasites Parasites
Regions North America Europe, Africa
Conservation Not Evaluated Not Evaluated

Bee Stylops

A strepsipteran parasite of Andrena bees in western North America. Males emerge as tiny winged adults that live for only a few hours.

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Did You Know?

Male strepsipterans have the shortest adult lifespan of any insect, often living less than five hours.

Sand Wasp Strepsipteran

A strepsipteran parasite of sand wasps in the genus Bembix. It is found in sandy coastal areas where its host wasps nest.

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Did You Know?

Parasitized sand wasps often have visibly protruding strepsipteran puparia between their abdominal segments.