#stylopidae

[every-day-creechur]

Stylops nevinsoni

A insect that is a parasite of bees, found in Europe. Stylops larvae emerge from their host bee while the host gathers pollen from flowers. The larvae then attach to other bees in order to be carried back to the nest. At the nest, the Stylops larvae enter the bodies of bee larvae and develop along with their host.

image by Rainer Theuer

[ichneumoniid]

Recently found some male strepsipterans swarming a bee, presumably one with a female twisted-wing hanging out on its abdomen. Very happy about seeing these funky little insect parasites in person!

Here’s a better view of one I collected from the swarm

(Stylops sp. (twisted-wing) and Andrena sp. (bee), 3/18/2025)

[themesozoicsperm]

I knew about the exisence of these things but I never saw em on video!