Wasp Twisted-Wing Parasite vs Sweat Bee Stylops
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Wasp Twisted-Wing Parasite | Sweat Bee Stylops |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Xenos vesparum | Stylops nevinsoni |
| Order | Strepsiptera | Strepsiptera |
| Family | Xenidae | Stylopidae |
| Size | 2-5 mm (males) | 2.0-3.0 mm (males) |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Underground |
| 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.
Sweat Bee Stylops
A strepsipteran endoparasite of Andrena bees in the British Isles. Parasitized bees emerge earlier than unparasitized individuals.
Did You Know?
Infected bees emerge from hibernation earlier in spring, which helps the strepsipteran synchronize its mating season.