Hornet Strepsipteran vs Twisted-Winged Parasitoid

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Hornet Strepsipteran Twisted-Winged Parasitoid
Scientific Name Xenos myrapetrus Elenchus tenuicornis
Order Strepsiptera Strepsiptera
Family Xenidae Elenchidae
Size 4.0-6.0 mm (males) 1-3 mm
Habitat Woodlands Farmland
Diet Parasites Parasites
Regions Africa Europe, Asia
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

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.

Twisted-Winged Parasitoid

A minute strepsipteran that parasitizes planthoppers of the family Delphacidae. Males have fan-shaped hind wings and raspberry-like compound eyes unique among insects.

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Did You Know?

Strepsiptera have unique compound eyes with far fewer but much larger individual lenses than any other insect, resembling a cluster of berries.