Hornet Strepsipteran vs American Wasp Xenid

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Hornet Strepsipteran American Wasp Xenid
Scientific Name Xenos myrapetrus Xenos peckii
Order Strepsiptera Strepsiptera
Family Xenidae Xenidae
Size 4.0-6.0 mm (males) 3.0-5.0 mm (males)
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Parasites Parasites
Regions Africa North America
Conservation Not Evaluated Not Evaluated

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.

American Wasp Xenid

A parasite of paper wasps in eastern North America, commonly found in Polistes fuscatus colonies. It dramatically alters host wasp behavior.

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Did You Know?

Up to 40% of paper wasps in some colonies can be parasitized by this twisted-wing parasite.