Twisted-wing parasites are insects of the order Strepsiptera, internal parasites of other insects such as bees, wasps, leafhoppers and planthoppers, and one of the most extreme examples of sexual dimorphism in the animal kingdom. Males are short-lived, free-flying insects whose hindwings alone provide flight while their forewings are reduced to small twisted, club-like structures that give the order its name; females of most species remain wingless, legless and permanently embedded within their host's body for their entire life, only ever exposing a small part of themselves to release pheromones and later larvae.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Living or Extinct Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceAdult male Strepsiptera have eyes unlike those of any other insect, resembling the eyes found in the trilobite group Phacopina 1 Scientific Name Connections
In the Other Atlases
- Also in Geography Atlas: Denmark, found in there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: Norway, found in there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: Sweden, found in there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: United States, found in there.
Sources
1. Strepsiptera - Wikipedia
Introduction
The Strepsiptera, or twisted-winged parasites are an order of parasitic insects
Description section
Adult male Strepsiptera have eyes unlike those of any other insect, resembling the eyes found in the trilobite group Phacopina
View the Source2. Wikidata: Strepsiptera
- Wikidata Q327144, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)
- Wikipedia 'Strepsiptera': endoparasites of other insects
- Child Taxon Of: Insecta, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
View the Source3. GBIF Species API
4. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ327144, descriptionView the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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