Scorpionfly — printable fact sheet

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Scorpionfly

Panorpa communis

The scorpionfly is a distinctive insect recognized for its elongated face and the male's tail, which resembles a scorpion's stinger but is actually harmless. Found primarily in Europe and parts of Asia, this insect inhabits damp, wooded areas and hedgerows. Scorpionflies are sca…

Classification

Invertebrate

Family

Panorpidae

Habitat

Woodlands and hedgerows

Diet

Omnivore

Conservation status

Least Concern

Lifespan

1-2 months (adult stage)

Weight

20-30 mg

Scientific name

Panorpa communis

Did you know?

Despite their intimidating appearance, scorpionflies are completely harmless to humans and do not possess any venom.
Male scorpionflies have a bulbous tail that mimics a scorpion's stinger, but it is used only for mating, not defense. Scorpionflies are among the few insects known to 'steal' prey from spider webs. These insects have a long rostrum, or beak-like structure, which they use to feed.

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