Wasp Twisted-Wing Parasite vs European Stylops
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Wasp Twisted-Wing Parasite | European Stylops |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Xenos vesparum | Stylops melittae |
| Order | Strepsiptera | Strepsiptera |
| Family | Xenidae | Stylopidae |
| Size | 2-5 mm (males) | 2.0-4.0 mm (males) |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Parasites | Parasites |
| Regions | Europe | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
Wasp Twisted-Wing Parasite
An endoparasite of paper wasps where females spend their entire life inside the wasp host. Parasitized wasps are castrated and abandon their colony duties.
Did You Know?
Female Xenos never leave their wasp host — they live, mate, and give birth to thousands of larvae while permanently embedded in the wasps abdomen.
European Stylops
A twisted-wing parasite of mining bees in the genus Andrena. Males are free-flying while females remain permanently embedded in the host bee.
Did You Know?
The female never leaves her host bee and only her brood canal opening protrudes between the bee's abdominal segments.