Halictid Bee Strepsipteran vs Twisted-Wing Delphacid Parasite

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Halictid Bee Strepsipteran Twisted-Wing Delphacid Parasite
Scientific Name Halictophagus silwoodensis Elenchus japonicus
Order Strepsiptera Strepsiptera
Family Halictophagidae Elenchidae
Size 1.0-1.5 mm (males) 1-3 mm (males)
Habitat Meadows Farmland
Diet Parasites Parasites
Regions Europe East Asia, Japan, China, Southeast Asia
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.

Twisted-Wing Delphacid Parasite

A tiny parasitoid of rice planthoppers, important in Asian rice agroecosystems. Males are free-flying with twisted wings; females are grub-like endoparasites.

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Did You Know?

As a natural enemy of rice planthoppers, this species plays a significant role in biological pest control in Asian rice farming.