Sweat Bee Stylops vs Pepe Tuna (Bag Moth)

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Sweat Bee Stylops Pepe Tuna (Bag Moth)
Scientific Name Stylops nevinsoni Liothula omnivora
Order Strepsiptera Lepidoptera
Family Stylopidae Psychidae
Size 2.0-3.0 mm (males) 15-25 mm (male wingspan); cases up to 100 mm
Habitat Underground Underground
Diet Parasites Herbivores
Regions Europe Oceania (New Zealand)
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Sweat Bee Stylops

A strepsipteran endoparasite of Andrena bees in the British Isles. Parasitized bees emerge earlier than unparasitized individuals.

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Did You Know?

Infected bees emerge from hibernation earlier in spring, which helps the strepsipteran synchronize its mating season.

Pepe Tuna (Bag Moth)

A native New Zealand bag moth whose caterpillars construct elaborate portable cases covered with twigs and leaf fragments. Female adults are wingless grubs that never leave their bags. Males are small dark moths that fly to find stationary females.

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Did You Know?

The female bag moth never develops wings or legs and spends her entire life inside the bag, even laying her eggs within it before dying.