Wasp Twisted-Wing Parasite vs Polyphemus Moth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Wasp Twisted-Wing Parasite | Polyphemus Moth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Xenos vesparum | Antheraea polyphemus |
| Order | Strepsiptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Xenidae | Saturniidae |
| Size | 2-5 mm (males) | Wingspan 100-150mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Parasites | Herbivores |
| Regions | Europe | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
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.
Polyphemus Moth
A large tan moth with prominent purple-ringed eyespots on its hindwings. It is named after the cyclops Polyphemus from Greek mythology.
Did You Know?
A single caterpillar can eat 86000 times its weight in food in the two months before it pupates.