#panorpidae

[reanimateobjects]

[have-you-seen-this-animal]

May I request scorpionflies (Panorpidae) and snakeflies (Raphdioptera)?

Of course!

Have you seen a scorpionfly (Family: Panorpidae)?

I have now

Yes, in photos/videos

Yes, irl

I'm not sure

Voting ended onSep 16, 2025

The "scorpion tail" on these guys is the enlarged genitals of males. The first photo I've included is of a male.

[every-day-creechur]

Panorpa wormaldi

A scorpionfly from Japan.

image by 登坂久雄

[moss-and-bugs]

Genus Panorpa

Edward L. Ryerson Conservation Area - Riverwoods, IL - May 31st 2024

Okay i know I say this about a lot of different species but man this genus is always such a treat to see. Their wings are so beautiful and they're so weird looking. Both the adults and larvae of this genus eat carrion. Our world is truly so wonderful and we are so lucky to get to live alongside so many wonderful and odd creatures that live it a world we might barely even notice

[alfalfa-alfalfa]

Scorpionfly (Mavropanorpa amurensis).

[miyrumiyru]

(F) 아무르밑들이 (Panorpa amurensis)

[toothedgoose]

Panorpa sp. (Mecoptera: Panorpidae)

Scorpionfly

Mosca escorpión

3 of June 2024 — Pennsylvania, USA

The man, the myth, the legend! I love scorpionflies sooooo much! I’d been trying to get a picture of one for a while, and I was finally successful, even getting a video!

Despite their name, they are neither flies nor scorpions. What looks like the ‘stinger’ of the scorpionfly (and what gives them their name) is actually the male’s aedeagus (male reproductive organ of insects), and so the females do not have one. They are mostly scavengers, and members of Panorpa are known for stealing prey from spiderwebs to eat it themselves.

[rinja-espurr]

I also saw them a few days ago!! I’m not really sure which bug it is (bugs were and now they are again my special interest but I was also afraid of them for like 8 or 9 years so I didn’t have enough time to research) but I really love how these photos turned out!!