Twisted-winged Insects
Order Strepsiptera
The Twisted-winged Insects (Order Strepsiptera) includes 58 species across 6 families and 9 genera in our directory.
About Twisted-winged Insects
Strepsiptera (twisted-wing parasites) includes ~600 described species. They are among the most bizarre insects - males are tiny free-flying adults that live only a few hours, while females of most species are permanent endoparasites that never leave their host's body.
Economic Impact
Strepsiptera parasitize other insects including bees, wasps, and leafhoppers. Their unique biology makes them valuable subjects for studying parasite-host evolution and extreme sexual dimorphism.
Ecological Role
Female Strepsiptera are essentially reduced to reproductive sacs inside their host insect. Males have only hind wings for flight - their forewings are reduced to tiny club-shaped structures. Their evolutionary position has been debated for over a century.
Families in Strepsiptera (6)
Species in Strepsiptera (58)
Caenocholax fenyesi 0
Caenocholax fenyesi
Identification: Aedeagus: shield-shaped with a pair of lateral spines and a ventral projection. Male strepsipterans have an adult life that lasts only a few hours, and in order to successfully reproduce they must locate a mate that remains an endopar
Caenocholax brasiliensis
Caenocholax brasiliensis
Elenchus falcipennis
Elenchus falcipennis
Elenchus lindbergi
Elenchus lindbergi
Elenchus maorianus
Elenchus maorianus
Elenchus melanias
Elenchus melanias
Elenchus tenuicornis
Elenchus tenuicornis
Elenchus varleyi
Elenchus varleyi
Eupathocera westwoodii
Eupathocera westwoodii
Halictophagus acutus
Halictophagus acutus
Halictophagus agalliae
Halictophagus agalliae
Halictophagus americanus
Halictophagus americanus
Halictophagus australensis
Halictophagus australensis
Halictophagus bidentatus
Halictophagus bidentatus
Halictophagus calcaratus
Halictophagus calcaratus
Halictophagus curtisi
Halictophagus curtisi
Halictophagus gioachinlunai
Halictophagus gioachinlunai
Halictophagus irwini
Halictophagus irwini
Halictophagus jordani
Halictophagus jordani
Halictophagus silwoodensis
Halictophagus silwoodensis
Halictoxenos anneckei
Halictoxenos anneckei
Halictoxenos crawfordi
Halictoxenos crawfordi
Halictoxenos fortunatus
Halictoxenos fortunatus
Halictoxenos jonesi
Halictoxenos jonesi
Halictoxenos knereri
Halictoxenos knereri
Halictoxenos nymphaeri
Halictoxenos nymphaeri
Halictoxenos schwarzi
Halictoxenos schwarzi
Halictoxenos tumulorum
Halictoxenos tumulorum
Leionotoxenos bishoppi
Leionotoxenos bishoppi
Stylops ater
Stylops ater
Stylops aterrimus
Stylops aterrimus
Stylops childreni
Stylops childreni
Stylops claytoniae
Stylops claytoniae
Stylops hamella
Stylops hamella
Stylops melittae
Stylops melittae
Stylops nevinsoni
Stylops nevinsoni
Stylops spretus
Stylops spretus
Stylops thwaitei
Stylops thwaitei
Triozocera albocciput
Triozocera albocciput
Triozocera ceylonensis
Triozocera ceylonensis
Triozocera eurychilus
Triozocera eurychilus
Triozocera lobulus
Triozocera lobulus
Triozocera macrognathus
Triozocera macrognathus
Triozocera mexicana
Triozocera mexicana
Triozocera texana
Triozocera texana
Triozocera vernalis
Triozocera vernalis
Xenos hamiltoni
Xenos hamiltoni
Xenos moutoni
Xenos moutoni
Xenos oxyodontes
Xenos oxyodontes
Xenos vesparum
Xenos vesparum
Xenos zavattarii
Xenos zavattarii
Elenchus koebelei
Elenchus koebelei
Eupathocera erynnidis
Eupathocera erynnidis
Eupathocera lugubris
Eupathocera lugubris
Leionotoxenos jonesi
Leionotoxenos jonesi
Leionotoxenos tigridis
Leionotoxenos tigridis
Xenos bicolor
Xenos bicolor
Xenos peckii
Xenos peckii