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 Comparison
CITES Appendix Scientific Name Connections
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Strepsiptera - Wikipedia
Introduction
The name of the order translates to "twisted wing", giving rise to other common names used for the order, twisted-wing insects and twisted-winged parasites.
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 5. UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat): Species+: Insecta
UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat)Species+ taxon_concepts, id 28Quote, Species+ taxon_concepts, id 28
"cites_listing":"I/II/III/NC","eu_listing":"A/B/C/NC","higher_taxa":{"kingdom":"Animalia","phylum":"Arthropoda","class":"Insecta","order":null,"family":null},"synonyms":[],"common_names":[{"name":"Insectos","language":"ES"},{"name":"Insects","language":"EN"},{"name":"Insectes","language":"FR"},{"name":"昆虫纲","language":"ZH"}],"cites_listings":[]
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