South American Cuckoo Bee vs Halictid Stylops
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | South American Cuckoo Bee | Halictid Stylops |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Exaerete frontalis | Stylops nassonowi |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Strepsiptera |
| Family | Apidae | Stylopidae |
| Size | 22-28 mm | 1.5-3.0 mm (males) |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Underground |
| Diet | Parasites | Parasites |
| Regions | Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Central America | Europe, Asia |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Not Evaluated |
South American Cuckoo Bee
A large metallic blue-green cleptoparasitic orchid bee that lays its eggs in the nests of other orchid bees. Its mandibles are strong enough to break into sealed brood cells.
Did You Know?
Its larvae first consume the host's food stores, then devour the host bee larva itself before pupating in the stolen nest cell.
Halictid Stylops
A twisted-wing parasite that targets sweat bees in the family Halictidae. Parasitized bees show altered behavior and suppressed reproduction.
Did You Know?
Parasitized bees are effectively castrated and their behavior changes so dramatically the phenomenon is called parasitic castration.