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Scorpion Fly (Panorpa communis)

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The common scorpion fly has a black and yellow body, with a reddish head and tail. The male has a scorpion like appearance because of its pair of claspers at the end of its tail (for holding the female during mating). This is not a stinger. The wingspan is aroundt 35 millimetres. The wings have back spots on an otherwise clear surface. Its head, mounted with large eyes, is and a pointing beak, which opens at the tip of its head. The lava look similar to a caterpillar. The adult is seen between May and September, in hedgerows. They also like nettle patches They eat dead insects occasionally removing them from spider webs. Although fully winged, the adults rarely fly far and tend to crawl about trough vegetation in damp in shaded places. Eggs are laid in soil annually. Picture taken at Maulden Woods on 5th September 2011.

Added:
5th Sep 2011 by Diane Earl

Subjects:
Biology, Environmental Science, Science

Key Stages:
Key Stage 2, Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4, Key Stage 4+

Geocode: Malden Woods, Bedfordshire

Keywords:
insect fly

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