European Stylops vs Cricket Strepsipteran
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | European Stylops | Cricket Strepsipteran |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Stylops melittae | Caenocholax fenyesi |
| Order | Strepsiptera | Strepsiptera |
| Family | Stylopidae | Myrmecolacidae |
| Size | 2.0-4.0 mm (males) | 1.5-3.0 mm (males) |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Underground |
| Diet | Parasites | Parasites |
| Regions | Europe | North America, Central America |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Not Evaluated |
European Stylops
A twisted-wing parasite of mining bees in the genus Andrena. Males are free-flying while females remain permanently embedded in the host bee.
Did You Know?
The female never leaves her host bee and only her brood canal opening protrudes between the bee's abdominal segments.
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.