Wasp Twisted-Wing Parasite vs Hornet Strepsipteran
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Wasp Twisted-Wing Parasite | Hornet Strepsipteran |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Xenos vesparum | Xenos myrapetrus |
| Order | Strepsiptera | Strepsiptera |
| Family | Xenidae | Xenidae |
| Size | 2-5 mm (males) | 4.0-6.0 mm (males) |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Parasites | Parasites |
| Regions | Europe | Africa |
| 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.
Hornet Strepsipteran
A large strepsipteran parasite of hornets and social wasps in tropical Africa. Males have distinctive fan-shaped hindwings.
Did You Know?
Male strepsipterans have large eyes with only about 50 facets each, giving them the coarsest visual resolution of any insect.