Halictid Bee Strepsipteran vs Desert Blister Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Halictid Bee Strepsipteran Desert Blister Beetle
Scientific Name Halictophagus silwoodensis Epicauta puncticollis
Order Strepsiptera Coleoptera
Family Halictophagidae Meloidae
Size 1.0-1.5 mm (males) 10-18 mm
Habitat Meadows Meadows
Diet Parasites Herbivores
Regions Europe North America
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Halictid Bee Strepsipteran

A tiny strepsipteran parasite of leafhoppers described from Silwood Park in England. Males have the characteristic twisted hindwings of the order.

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Did You Know?

Strepsiptera means twisted wing, referring to the way the hindwings twist during flight like helicopter blades.

Desert Blister Beetle

A soft-bodied beetle that produces cantharidin, a blistering toxin, in its hemolymph. It feeds on desert wildflowers after seasonal rains.

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Did You Know?

Its larvae are parasites that consume grasshopper eggs buried in desert soil.