Panorpa communis
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Panorpa communis, the common scorpionfly,[1] is a species of scorpionfly.
Distribution
This species is native to Europe (Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Ukraine, and European Russia)[2] and Northern Asia.[3][4][5]
Habitat
These scorpionflies can be usually found in hedgerows and patches of nettle.[6]
Description
Panorpa communis can reach a body length of about Script error: No such module "convert"..[6] The common scorpionfly has a black and yellow body, with a reddish head and tail. The male has a pair of claspers at the end of its tail (for holding the female during mating),[6] giving it a scorpion-like appearance,[6] although it is not a stinger.
The adult insect has a wingspan of about Script error: No such module "convert".,[6] with wings that are mostly clear, but have many dark spots or patches. Its head, mounted with large eyes, is drawn into a prominent, downward pointing beak,[6] which opens at the tip of its head. Females are longer, heavier, and have longer legs than males.[7]
In the female, the eighth abdominal segment is the shortest, almost twice shorter than the seventh; the sixth is narrowed towards the back.[8] The larva resembles a caterpillar and grows up to Script error: No such module "convert". long. It has three pairs of thoracic legs and eight pairs of prolegs.[9]
Biology and habits
The adult is seen between May and September.[6] They eat dead insects (although they sometimes eat live aphids), sometimes taking them from spider webs[6] and plant sap.[10]
Although fully winged, the adults rarely fly very far and spend much of their time crawling on vegetation in damp, shaded places near water and along hedgerows. Panorpa communis is a univoltine species.[6] Eggs are laid in soil annually and the larvae both scavenge and pupate there.[6]
Mating behavior
Males release pheromones and offer nuptial gifts to females in the form of saliva secretions and nuptial prey (usually dead arthropods).[11] Before offering the nuptial gifts, the male and female, perform ritualized premating behavior, which includes slow wing movements, accompanied by brief sequences of rapid vibrations from their abdomen.[11] The mating success of females increases with the size of nuptial gifts offered by the male.[11]
Gallery
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Mating (female on the right)
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Head detail
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Wing detail
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Male genitalia
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Video clip
References
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- ↑ in Kendall Bioresearch
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Fauna europaea
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Range at GBIF
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j UK Safari
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ F. C. Fraser: Handbooks for the identification of British Insects. Vol. I. part 12 and 13. Mecoptera, Megaloptera, Neuroptera. London: Royal Entomological Society of London, 1959, s. 8–10
- ↑ Strange animals
- ↑ "food" in uksafari.com
- ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
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External links
- Peter Holden, Geoffrey Abbott RSPB Handbook of Garden Wildlife
- Bloomsbury Concise Garden Wildlife Guide
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