Scorpionflies (Mecoptera)

by Jeffrey S. Pippen | Back to Jeff's Miscellaneous Invertebrates Page | Jeff's Nature Pages


Scorpionflies do not bite or sting, although the abdomen of the males, which are often held curled up under the wings, resembles a scorpion stinger. Mouthparts are elongated into a "beak". These harmless insects feed mostly on dead or dying insects.
Dark Scorpionfly (Panorpa lugubris) Dark Scorpionfly (Panorpa lugubris)
Pine flatwoods/savanna in Craven Co., NC
21 Oct 2007

Male

Dark Scorpionfly (Panorpa lugubris) Dark Scorpionfly (Panorpa lugubris)
Pine flatwoods/savanna in Craven Co., NC
21 Oct 2007

Male -- Note abdomen is curled up under its wings.


scorpionfly (Panorpa sp.) scorpionfly (Panorpa sp.)
Clay Co., NC
13 May 2006

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Created on ... Cot 24, 2007 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com