Cricket Strepsipteran vs Bee-fly Strepsipteran
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Cricket Strepsipteran | Bee-fly Strepsipteran |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caenocholax fenyesi | Stylops ater |
| Order | Strepsiptera | Strepsiptera |
| Family | Myrmecolacidae | Stylopidae |
| Size | 1.5-3.0 mm (males) | 2.0-3.5 mm (males) |
| Habitat | Underground | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Parasites | Parasites |
| Regions | North America, Central America | Europe |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Not Evaluated |
Cricket Strepsipteran
An unusual strepsipteran whose males parasitize ants while females parasitize crickets. This dual-host system is unique among parasites.
Did You Know?
Males and females of this species parasitize completely different insect orders, a phenomenon unique to the family Myrmecolacidae.
Bee-fly Strepsipteran
A dark-bodied strepsipteran that parasitizes Andrena mining bees in Europe. The triungulins actively seek out host bee larvae in nest cells.
Did You Know?
Tiny first-instar larvae ride on flowers and grab onto visiting bees for transport back to the bee's nest.