Giant Bark Aphid vs Hornet Strepsipteran

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Giant Bark Aphid Hornet Strepsipteran
Scientific Name Longistigma caryae Xenos myrapetrus
Order Hemiptera Strepsiptera
Family Aphididae Xenidae
Size 4-6 mm 4.0-6.0 mm (males)
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Wood Feeders Parasites
Regions North America Africa
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Giant Bark Aphid

The largest aphid in North America, with a body up to 6 mm long. It is grayish-brown with dark wing markings and feeds in conspicuous colonies on the bark of hardwood trees.

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Did You Know?

Colonies on tree bark produce so much honeydew that it rains down onto cars, sidewalks, and outdoor furniture, creating a sticky nuisance in urban areas.

Hornet Strepsipteran

A large strepsipteran parasite of hornets and social wasps in tropical Africa. Males have distinctive fan-shaped hindwings.

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Did You Know?

Male strepsipterans have large eyes with only about 50 facets each, giving them the coarsest visual resolution of any insect.