Tunnel Beetle vs Wasp Twisted-Wing Parasite
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Tunnel Beetle | Wasp Twisted-Wing Parasite |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lymexylon navale | Xenos vesparum |
| Order | Coleoptera | Strepsiptera |
| Family | Lymexylidae | Xenidae |
| Size | 7-16mm | 2-5 mm (males) |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Parasites |
| Regions | Europe | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Tunnel Beetle
A slender cylindrical beetle whose larvae bore straight tunnels through oak timber. Historically damaged ship timber.
Did You Know?
Was a major pest of oak shipbuilding timber, boring tunnels that weakened the hulls of wooden warships.
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.