Scorpionfly
Order Mecoptera
Harmless "Stinger"
The most striking feature, the bulbous, curved "stinger" at the end of the male's abdomen, is purely their genital structure and is completely harmless. They cannot sting or inject venom.
Nuptial Gifts
During courtship, the male Panorpa must present the female with a nuptial gift (usually a dead, captured insect or a salivary secretion) to distract her while he mates. The size of the gift determines the length of copulation.
Scavengers of Death
Scorpionflies are highly attracted to dead and decaying insects, often acting as important scavengers in the forest floor ecosystem. They play a role in cleaning up smaller carcasses.
Field notes
| Range | Widespread |
|---|---|
| Lifespan | Typically 1 year (completes one generation per year) |
| Size | Most species are between 15 mm and 25 mm |
| Weight | Very lightweight; only a few milligrams |
| Colour | Generally dark and slender |
| Diet | Omnivorous Scavenger/Predator |
| Family | About 600 described species |
In the book
The Scorpionfly is number 52 of the 101 creatures in Glowing Bugs. Its two pages show it from three sides, at its true size, with a map of where it lives. The plate is an artistic interpretation and does not show the true colours of the living animal.
