Common Scorpionfly vs Northern Snow Scorpionfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Common Scorpionfly | Northern Snow Scorpionfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Panorpa communis | Boreus westwoodi |
| Order | Mecoptera | Mecoptera |
| Family | Panorpidae | Boreidae |
| Size | 9-15 mm body | 3-4 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Forests |
| Diet | Fruit Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe | Northern Europe, Scandinavia, Finland, northern Russia |
| 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.
Northern Snow Scorpionfly
A small, dark, flightless scorpionfly that appears on snow in late autumn and early winter. It is glossy black-brown with elongated mouthparts for feeding on mosses. Females have a prominent pointed ovipositor.
Did You Know?
Despite being wingless, this insect can jump short distances using its powerful hind legs to move quickly across snow.