Twisted-Wing Honeybee Parasite vs Abbott's Sphinx Moth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Twisted-Wing Honeybee Parasite | Abbott's Sphinx Moth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Stylops ovinae | Sphecodina abbottii |
| Order | Strepsiptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Stylopidae | Sphingidae |
| Size | 2-4 mm (males) | 50-70 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Underground |
| Diet | Parasites | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe | Eastern North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Twisted-Wing Honeybee Parasite
A tiny endoparasite of Andrena bees whose females are permanently embedded in the host's abdomen. Males live only a few hours as free-flying adults with twisted hind wings.
Did You Know?
Male Strepsiptera have the shortest adult lifespan of any insect, often living just 2-5 hours.
Abbott's Sphinx Moth
A unique hawk moth with scalloped brown wings and a yellow and brown banded body resembling a large hornet. Its flight is rapid and bee-like, flying mainly at dusk.
Did You Know?
Abbott's sphinx is named after John Abbott, an 18th-century English naturalist who produced over 3,000 paintings of Georgian insects.