Common Scorpionfly
Panorpa communis
The adult is found in damp hedgerows, nettle patches, woodland rides, and shaded gardens, often resting on low vegetation. It feeds on dead insects, soft-bodied prey, nectar, and fruit juices, and may steal trapped insects from spider webs. Despite the male’s scorpion-like tail, it has no sting; the curled tip is part of the reproductive anatomy. Its spotted wings and short flights make it a conspicuous but agile insect of summer vegetation.
- Type
- Wing
- Conservation status
- NE
Growth chain
- ?
- ?
- Common Scorpionfly