Twisted-Wing Honeybee Parasite vs Gypsy Moth Tachinid

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Twisted-Wing Honeybee Parasite Gypsy Moth Tachinid
Scientific Name Stylops ovinae Compsilura concinnata
Order Strepsiptera Diptera
Family Stylopidae Tachinidae
Size 2-4 mm (males) 7-10 mm
Habitat Underground Woodlands
Diet Parasites Parasites
Regions Europe Europe, North America, Asia
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.

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Did You Know?

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

Gypsy Moth Tachinid

A parasitic fly introduced to North America from Europe to control gypsy moths. It has an extremely broad host range attacking over 200 insect species.

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Did You Know?

Its introduction to North America is now considered a mistake because it devastated native silk moth populations.