Twisted-winged parasites belong to Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Arthropoda, Superclass Hexapoda, Class Insecta, Subclass Pterygota, Order Strepsiptra. They are commonly called stylops.

Twisted-winged parasites are mostly males since females are legless and wingless. Parasitic in nature, these insects attach themselves to adult hosts during their active first stage larvae period. They will stay inside their hosts nests burrowing in the larva of their host until they develop into adults. Before reaching adulthood, they are usually legless internal parasites.

The female insects in this Order, however, become parasites forever, preferring to remain in their host. The male stylops posess tiny fron wings, large twisted hind wings and an antennae that is built like an antler.

These insects can be found almost everywhere. The winged males can be reared from their distorted hosts that were parasitized.