Large Square-headed Wasp vs European Stylops

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Large Square-headed Wasp European Stylops
Scientific Name Ectemnius cephalotes Stylops melittae
Order Hymenoptera Strepsiptera
Family Crabronidae Stylopidae
Size 12-18 mm 2.0-4.0 mm (males)
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Wood Feeders Parasites
Regions Europe Europe
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Large Square-headed Wasp

A large solitary wasp that nests in dead wood and provisions its nest with captured flies. Has a distinctively large, square-shaped head. Common in gardens and woodland.

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Did You Know?

Nests in old beetle holes in dead wood, stocking each cell with paralyzed flies for its developing larvae.

European Stylops

A twisted-wing parasite of mining bees in the genus Andrena. Males are free-flying while females remain permanently embedded in the host bee.

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Did You Know?

The female never leaves her host bee and only her brood canal opening protrudes between the bee's abdominal segments.