Golden-belted Tachinid vs Sand Wasp Strepsipteran

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Golden-belted Tachinid Sand Wasp Strepsipteran
Scientific Name Ectophasia crassipennis Paraxenos lugubris
Order Diptera Strepsiptera
Family Tachinidae Xenidae
Size 6-10 mm 2.5-4.0 mm (males)
Habitat Underground Beaches & Coastal
Diet Parasites Parasites
Regions Europe Europe, Africa
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Golden-belted Tachinid

A colorful parasitic fly with golden-yellow markings and dark wing patches. Parasitizes shieldbugs and stink bugs. Often seen on umbellifer flowers.

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Did You Know?

The conspicuous wing markings may be involved in mating displays among the otherwise cryptic tachinid flies.

Sand Wasp Strepsipteran

A strepsipteran parasite of sand wasps in the genus Bembix. It is found in sandy coastal areas where its host wasps nest.

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Did You Know?

Parasitized sand wasps often have visibly protruding strepsipteran puparia between their abdominal segments.