Leafhopper Strepsipteran vs Cricket Strepsipteran

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Leafhopper Strepsipteran Cricket Strepsipteran
Scientific Name Halictophagus calcaratus Caenocholax fenyesi
Order Strepsiptera Strepsiptera
Family Halictophagidae Myrmecolacidae
Size 1.0-2.0 mm (males) 1.5-3.0 mm (males)
Habitat Farmland Underground
Diet Parasites Parasites
Regions North America, Europe North America, Central America
Conservation Not Evaluated Not Evaluated

Leafhopper Strepsipteran

A tiny strepsipteran that parasitizes leafhoppers in the family Cicadellidae. The first-instar larvae are among the smallest known insects.

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Did You Know?

The first-instar triungulin larva is only about 0.2 mm long, making it one of the smallest free-living insects.

Cricket Strepsipteran

An unusual strepsipteran whose males parasitize ants while females parasitize crickets. This dual-host system is unique among parasites.

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Did You Know?

Males and females of this species parasitize completely different insect orders, a phenomenon unique to the family Myrmecolacidae.