Deer Ked vs Ensign Wasp
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Deer Ked | Ensign Wasp |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lipoptena cervi | Evania appendigaster |
| Order | Diptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Hippoboscidae | Evaniidae |
| Size | 5-7 mm | 5-7 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Parasitoids |
| Regions | Europe, Asia, introduced to North America | Africa, Asia, North America, South America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Deer Ked
A flattened, reddish-brown blood-sucking fly that sheds its wings upon finding a deer host. It clings tenaciously to the hair with strong claws and feeds on blood throughout its life.
Did You Know?
After landing on a host, it breaks off its own wings permanently, spending the rest of its life as a wingless ectoparasite.
Ensign Wasp
A parasitoid wasp that targets cockroach egg cases and helps control pest populations.
Did You Know?
It bobs its flag-like abdomen up and down as it walks, resembling a tiny flag bearer.