Earwig Scorpionfly vs Short-Faced Scorpionfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute	Earwig Scorpionfly	Short-Faced Scorpionfly
Scientific Name	Merope tuber	Panorpodes paradoxus
Order	Mecoptera	Mecoptera
Family	Meropeidae	Panorpodidae
Size	10-12 mm	10-14 mm
Habitat	Forests	Forests
Diet	Detritivores	Pollen Feeders
Regions	North America	Asia
Conservation	Data Deficient	Least Concern

Earwig Scorpionfly

An extremely rare and primitive scorpionfly with forcep-like cerci reminiscent of earwigs. It is nocturnal and found in leaf litter of old-growth eastern North American forests.

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Did You Know?

Merope tuber is so rarely encountered that its biology and ecology remain largely mysterious despite being described over 150 years ago.

Short-Faced Scorpionfly

An unusual scorpionfly with a shorter rostrum than typical Panorpa species, found in East Asian forests. It feeds primarily on nectar and pollen.

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Did You Know?

Unlike most scorpionflies that scavenge dead insects, this species has evolved a shortened face for feeding primarily on flower nectar.