Extreme-miniaturization

Guides

• Dicopomorpha echmepterygis

  Dicopomorpha echmepterygis is the smallest known adult insect, with wingless males averaging 186 μm in body length (range 139–240 μm). This mymarid parasitoid wasp exhibits extreme sexual dimorphism: males are blind, apterous, and possess relatively long legs, while females are fully winged with functional compound eyes and black bodies. The species is an idiobiont parasitoid of eggs of the lepidopsocid barklouse Echmepteryx hageni. Males complete their entire life cycle within the host egg, mating with sisters and dying without ever emerging.

  extreme-miniaturizationsexual-dimorphismapterous-maleeyeless-maleparasitoidegg-parasitoidMymaridaefairyflysmallest-insectidiobiontinbreedinghost-specificbarklouse-parasite