Twisted-Wing Honeybee Parasite vs Asian Xenid

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Twisted-Wing Honeybee Parasite Asian Xenid
Scientific Name Stylops ovinae Xenos oxyodontes
Order Strepsiptera Strepsiptera
Family Stylopidae Xenidae
Size 2-4 mm (males) 3.0-4.5 mm (males)
Habitat Underground Woodlands
Diet Parasites Parasites
Regions Europe Asia
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

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.

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Did You Know?

Male Strepsiptera have the shortest adult lifespan of any insect, often living just 2-5 hours.

Asian Xenid

A strepsipteran parasite of Ropalidia paper wasps in tropical Asia. It modifies host wasp social behavior and colony dynamics.

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Did You Know?

Parasitized worker wasps become lazy freeloaders that beg food from nestmates instead of foraging.