Hornet Strepsipteran vs Halictid Stylops

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Hornet Strepsipteran Halictid Stylops
Scientific Name Xenos myrapetrus Stylops nassonowi
Order Strepsiptera Strepsiptera
Family Xenidae Stylopidae
Size 4.0-6.0 mm (males) 1.5-3.0 mm (males)
Habitat Woodlands Underground
Diet Parasites Parasites
Regions Africa Europe, Asia
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.

Halictid Stylops

A twisted-wing parasite that targets sweat bees in the family Halictidae. Parasitized bees show altered behavior and suppressed reproduction.

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Did You Know?

Parasitized bees are effectively castrated and their behavior changes so dramatically the phenomenon is called parasitic castration.