Cricket Strepsipteran vs Canary-shouldered Thorn

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Cricket Strepsipteran Canary-shouldered Thorn
Scientific Name Caenocholax fenyesi Ennomos alniaria
Order Strepsiptera Lepidoptera
Family Myrmecolacidae Geometridae
Size 1.5-3.0 mm (males) 35-42 mm wingspan
Habitat Underground Underground
Diet Parasites Omnivores
Regions North America, Central America Europe, temperate Asia
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Cricket Strepsipteran

An unusual strepsipteran whose males parasitize ants while females parasitize crickets. This dual-host system is unique among parasites.

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Did You Know?

Males and females of this species parasitize completely different insect orders, a phenomenon unique to the family Myrmecolacidae.

Canary-shouldered Thorn

An autumn moth with bright canary-yellow fur on its thorax and warm orange-yellow wings. When at rest with wings raised, it closely resembles a dead birch leaf.

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Did You Know?

Its vivid yellow thoracic fur is unique among British geometrid moths and makes it instantly recognisable.