Parasitic
Guides
Bombus variabilis
Variable Cuckoo Bumble Bee, Variable Cuckoo Bumblebee
Bombus variabilis is a parasitic bumble bee (subgenus Psithyrus) native to North America. It lacks the ability to collect pollen or establish its own colonies, instead infiltrating nests of host bumble bees to reproduce. The species is critically dependent on Bombus pensylvanicus as its primary host, making its survival tightly linked to host population trends. Bombus variabilis has experienced significant decline due to habitat loss and climate change affecting its host.
Catogenus rufus
Eastern Flat Passandrid
Catogenus rufus is a species of parasitic flat bark beetle in the family Passandridae. The species was described by Fabricius in 1792. It is found in North America, with distribution records including Canada (Ontario) and the United States. The common name "Eastern Flat Passandrid" reflects its geographic concentration in eastern North America. Members of Passandridae are known for their flattened body form and parasitic or commensal relationships with wood-boring beetles.
Cymothoida
Predaceous and Parasitic Isopods
Cymothoida is a suborder of isopod crustaceans comprising more than 2,700 described species across four superfamilies. Members are predominantly carnivorous or parasitic, distinguished by specialized mouthparts including a mandible with a tooth-like process adapted for cutting or slicing. The group includes diverse lifestyles ranging from free-living scavengers to obligate parasites of fish and crustaceans.
Dioxys
Dioxys is a genus of parasitic bees in the family Megachilidae, tribe Dioxyini. These bees are characterized by distinctive morphological features including a median tubercle on the metanotum and an extremely reduced, non-functional sting. The genus contains approximately 13 recognized species in the West Palaearctic region, with a taxonomic revision published in 2024 resolving several long-standing species-level issues. Dioxys species are distributed across the Mediterranean basin, North Africa, the Middle East, and the Canary Islands, with varying geographic ranges and habitat preferences.
Eylais
Eylais is a genus of water mites in the family Eylaidae. The genus has cosmopolitan distribution. Larvae are ectoparasites of diving beetles (family Dytiscidae), attaching primarily to the ventral surface of the hindwings beneath the elytra.
Hygrobatidae
water mites
Hygrobatidae is a family of prostigmatan mites in the order Trombidiformes, commonly known as water mites. The family comprises approximately 78 genera and over 100 described species, though estimates vary. Members are primarily aquatic, inhabiting springs, streams, and running waters across multiple continents. The genus Hygrobates includes a well-studied species complex (fluviatilis-complex) with ten or more morphologically similar species. Some species exhibit parasitic associations with amphibians.
Physoconops weemsi
A species of thick-headed fly in the family Conopidae, described by Camras in 2007. As a member of the genus Physoconops, it likely exhibits wasp-mimicking morphology and parasitic behavior toward Hymenoptera, though species-specific documentation remains limited. The genus is characterized by elongated abdomens resembling potter wasps and heavily pigmented wing margins that mimic the folded wings of resting wasps.
Sapphirina
Sea Sapphires
Sapphirina is a genus of marine planktonic copepods in the family Sapphirinidae, commonly known as sea sapphires. Males exhibit striking iridescent structural coloration ranging from gold to deep blue, produced by multilayered guanine crystal plates beneath the dorsal cuticle. Females are translucent and lack this coloration. The genus comprises specialized predators of pelagic tunicates (salps), with some species exhibiting a complex life history involving both parasitic and predatory phases.