# Meadow Scorpionfly (*Panorpa vulgaris*) The Meadow Scorpionfly is a unique insect with long wings and a funny tail that looks like a scorpion! They love to fly around meadows and gardens, searching for food and friends. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Meadows ![Meadow Scorpionfly](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/%28MHNT%29_Panorpa_vulgaris_-_female_dorsal_view.jpg&width=800) Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%28MHNT%29_Panorpa_vulgaris_-_female_dorsal_view.jpg) ## Appearance The Meadow Scorpionfly has a slender, yellowish-brown body and two pairs of clear, membranous wings often marked with dark spots. Males possess a distinctive upward-curving 'tail' with claspers that resembles a scorpion's sting, though it is completely harmless. Its long head ends in a downward-curving rostrum, giving it a unique profile. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Mecoptera - **Family:** Panorpidae - **Genus:** Panorpa ## Interesting facts - Males sometimes steal dead insects from spider webs to offer as impressive gifts to females! - Meadow Scorpionfly larvae live hidden underground, looking like caterpillars while helping decompose! - They are living fossils! Scorpionflies belong to an ancient insect order that lived with dinosaurs! - They have chewing mouthparts at the end of a long, downward-curving 'beak' for munching food! ## Special abilities - **Mimicry Master:** Meadow Scorpionfly males have a tail that looks like a scorpion's sting, which helps them deter predators from attacking. - **Nature's Cleaner:** Meadow Scorpionflies can feed on dead insects and decaying organic matter, helping them keep ecosystems tidy. - **Flight Navigator:** Meadow Scorpionflies have two pairs of veined wings that help them expertly navigate through dense vegetation. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 20-30 mm - **Size:** 15-25 mm - **Lifespan:** 15-45 days - **Flight Speed:** 5 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding They primarily feast on dead insects and rotting fruits, but also sip on nectar from flowers. - **Age differences:** Larvae primarily consume decaying organic matter and dead insects within the soil, while adults are more active scavengers and foragers above ground. - **Primary Foods:** Dead insects, Rotting fruit, Nectar, Pollen, Sap - **Foraging Method:** Scavenging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [European Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-robin) (*Erithacus rubecula*) — Robins are generalist insectivores that will prey on scorpionflies. - **Eaten by:** Garden Cross Spider (*Araneus diadematus*) — Scorpionflies can get trapped in spider webs and become prey. - **Eats:** Common Housefly (*Musca domestica*) — Adult scorpionflies often scavenge on dead or dying houseflies. - **Eats:** Wild Strawberry (*Fragaria vesca*) — They feed on the juices of overripe wild berries, like strawberries. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Scavenger](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/scavenger): Scavengers consume dead organic matter, helping to decompose carcasses and other waste in the ecosystem. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Scorpionflies are safe to watch, but it's best to look without touching. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Meadow Scorpionfly? Look for six legs, antennae, three body sections and the shape of the wings. Beetles have hardened front wings; flies have just one working pair. Tiny insects may need a close view before their group is clear. Insect Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Meadow Scorpionfly's wingspan? 20-30 mm ### How big is Meadow Scorpionfly? 15-25 mm ### How long does Meadow Scorpionfly live? 15-45 days ### How fast can Meadow Scorpionfly fly? 5 km/h ### What does Meadow Scorpionfly eat? They primarily feast on dead insects and rotting fruits, but also sip on nectar from flowers. ### Where is Meadow Scorpionfly usually found? Meadows ### How does Meadow Scorpionfly hunt? Scavenging ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Meadow Scorpionfly: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/meadow-scorpionfly)