Common European Scorpionfly

Panorpa communis

The Common European Scorpionfly is a unique insect with a long body and wings that look like a dragonfly's. They are often found in gardens and meadows, where they enjoy sunny spots.

Lebensraum: Meadows

Aussehen

The Common European Scorpionfly has a slender, yellowish body with dark markings, especially on its clear, membranous wings which often have black spots. Its head is reddish with long antennae, and males distinctively possess a bulbous, scorpion-like tail used for mating, not stinging.

ReichAnimaliaStammArthropodaKlasseInsectaOrdnungMecopteraFamiliePanorpidaeGattungPanorpa

Common European Scorpionfly

Kategorie

Insekten

Seltenheit

Common

Gefahr

1/5 · Sehr gering

Snaps

Mach den ersten Snap!

Interessante Fakten

Female scorpionflies can sometimes mate with several males, choosing the best 'nuptial gifts' each time!

Some male scorpionflies will steal gifts from other males to impress a female!

Their family, Mecoptera, are ancient insects with fossils dating back over 250 million years!

Young scorpionflies (larvae) live in the soil and look like caterpillars with small legs!

Besondere Fähigkeiten

Common European Scorpionfly males have a unique 'scorpion-like' tail (genital claspers) that helps them grasp and hold females during mating.

Common European Scorpionfly males can offer nuptial gifts, like dead insects or saliva, to females, increasing mating success.

Common European Scorpionfly can detect decaying organic matter using their antennae to find vital food sources in their habitat.

Maße und Details

Flügelspannweite: 25-35 mm
Größe: 9-15 mm
Lebenserwartung: 20-30 Tage
Anzahl der Beine: 6

Ernährung und Fütterung

These curious insects mostly eat dead insects and sweet plant nectar, helping to clean up nature's leftovers.

Altersunterschiede: Larvae eat decaying organic matter in soil, while adults primarily consume dead insects and nectar.

Hauptnahrung

dead insects
nectar
pollen
fruit juices
honeydew

Nahrungssuche

Scavenging

Ökologische Zusammenhänge

eats

Common House Fly

Musca domestica

Scavenges on their dead bodies found in vegetation.

eaten by

Cross Orbweaver

Araneus diadematus

Caught in their webs as they fly through undergrowth.

eaten by

Great Tit

Parus major

Foraged by birds as a source of insect protein.

depends on

Common Dandelion

Taraxacum officinale

Feeds on nectar from its flowers for energy.

Merkmale

Einzelgänger

Einzelgänger leben den größten Teil ihres Lebens allein und interagieren mit Artgenossen nur zur Paarung oder zur Aufzucht der Jungen.

Aasfresser

Aasfresser ernähren sich von toter organischer Substanz und helfen dabei, Kadaver und andere Abfälle im Ökosystem abzubauen.

Farbenfroh

Farbenfroh beschreibt Organismen oder Objekte, die eine große Vielfalt an leuchtenden und deutlich erkennbaren Farben aufweisen.

Grasland

Grasland-Lebensräume sind terrestrische Biome, die von Gräsern und krautigen Pflanzen dominiert werden und einer Vielzahl von Weidetieren als Lebensraum dienen.