Common Scorpionfly vs Median Wasp
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Common Scorpionfly | Median Wasp |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Panorpa communis | Dolichovespula media |
| Order | Mecoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Panorpidae | Vespidae |
| Size | 9-15 mm body | 15-22 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Underground |
| Diet | Fruit Feeders | Sap Feeders |
| Regions | Europe | Europe, Northern Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Common Scorpionfly
Males have a bulbous upturned abdomen tip that resembles a scorpion stinger but is actually their genitalia and is completely harmless. Males offer nuptial gifts of saliva or dead insects.
Did You Know?
Male scorpionflies bring wedding presents — they offer females gifts of dead insects or secreted saliva droplets. Males with better gifts get longer mating opportunities.
Median Wasp
A large social wasp that builds aerial paper nests in trees and shrubs across Europe. They are less aggressive than yellowjackets and colonies typically contain around 200 workers.
Did You Know?
Their nests are beautifully layered with bands of different colored paper made from various wood sources.