Twisted-Wing Honeybee Parasite vs Bee Stylops

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Twisted-Wing Honeybee Parasite Bee Stylops
Scientific Name Stylops ovinae Stylops pacificus
Order Strepsiptera Strepsiptera
Family Stylopidae Stylopidae
Size 2-4 mm (males) 2.0-3.5 mm (males)
Habitat Underground Farmland
Diet Parasites Parasites
Regions Europe North America
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.

Bee Stylops

A strepsipteran parasite of Andrena bees in western North America. Males emerge as tiny winged adults that live for only a few hours.

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Did You Know?

Male strepsipterans have the shortest adult lifespan of any insect, often living less than five hours.