#stylops

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.

Are you tired of being stylopized?

Fear not, for you can now simply shout at your Strepsipteran foes to stay away!

Unbeknownst to the wasp, she may already have an unwelcome, unseen lodger tucked away in between her tergites.

People throw around the term “Lovecraftian” for things in nature a lot, but to be honest the only animal I would actually apply it to to is a stylops. Seriously, why are the mi-go and the Elder Things so often drawn with those very specific wings, and that very specific body shape, even evoking those specific eyes and antennae?! Even the front halteres call to mind the Elder Things’ tentacles! (Of course it goes without saying that these are my two very favorite Lovecraft figures, and stylopses among my favorite insects.)

Not only that...but that’s just the male. The female stylops is a featureless, mind-controlling parasite. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenos_vesparum

Known sources: Stylops: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Main-image-electron-micrograph-of-a-male-Stylops-ovinae-Strepsiptera-All-insects-have_fig3_306522323 https://www.flickr.com/photos/nuclearlakeside/ Mi-go: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/157452/cultists-cthulhu

https://www.deviantart.com/kingovrats/art/Lovecraft-Mi-Go-III-669195060