Twisted-Winged Parasitoid vs Bee-fly Strepsipteran

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Twisted-Winged Parasitoid Bee-fly Strepsipteran
Scientific Name Elenchus tenuicornis Stylops ater
Order Strepsiptera Strepsiptera
Family Elenchidae Stylopidae
Size 1-3 mm 2.0-3.5 mm (males)
Habitat Farmland Rivers & Streams
Diet Parasites Parasites
Regions Europe, Asia Europe
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Twisted-Winged Parasitoid

A minute strepsipteran that parasitizes planthoppers of the family Delphacidae. Males have fan-shaped hind wings and raspberry-like compound eyes unique among insects.

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Did You Know?

Strepsiptera have unique compound eyes with far fewer but much larger individual lenses than any other insect, resembling a cluster of berries.

Bee-fly Strepsipteran

A dark-bodied strepsipteran that parasitizes Andrena mining bees in Europe. The triungulins actively seek out host bee larvae in nest cells.

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Did You Know?

Tiny first-instar larvae ride on flowers and grab onto visiting bees for transport back to the bee's nest.