Cricket Strepsipteran vs Silverfish Strepsipteran
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Cricket Strepsipteran | Silverfish Strepsipteran |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caenocholax fenyesi | Mengenilla chobauti |
| Order | Strepsiptera | Strepsiptera |
| Family | Myrmecolacidae | Mengenillidae |
| Size | 1.5-3.0 mm (males) | 2.0-3.5 mm (males) |
| Habitat | Underground | Heathland |
| Diet | Parasites | Parasites |
| Regions | North America, Central America | Europe, Africa |
| 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.
Silverfish Strepsipteran
A primitive strepsipteran that parasitizes silverfish and firebrats. Unlike most strepsipterans, the adult female is free-living.
Did You Know?
This is one of the most primitive strepsipterans, and the free-living adult female resembles a tiny larva.