Scorpion Flies Panorpa spp.

Generally, scorpion flies are shy insects which skulk in bushes and are difficult to observe 'in vivo'. This year, however, I had opportunity to take a good look at their behaviour and peculiar anatomical features and take several photographs.

A fig tree in the garden produced a large number of ripe fruit which when gathered often left the lower fleshy part of the fig on the tree. This seemed irresistible to scorpion flies and from about 23 August until 30 August they congregated with one to four insects on a juicy stump. Much of the time was spent feeding, using their long 'beaks' to bite into the flesh. Some insects spent at least 15 minutes at a time in this activity, and appeared to drive away any visiting fly attracted by the potential meal. Both males and females visited the stumps (photograph p.4). The females were observed to flirt their wings, presumably as part of a mating ritual and coupling was seen on several occasions. The flies, united at their tails, their wings interleaving, clung to the fruit, their bodies at about 75 to 90 degrees to each other. They remained together for at least ten minutes.

Although visiting flies were driven off there was no attempt to capture them. Chinery (1973), describing their feeding habits comments that, in his garden, they were attracted to overripe gooseberries. This together with the observations in this account indicates that ripe fruit forms a part of their diet in addition to dead or living insects. Their liking for the fruit pulp overcame their natural shyness and they would remain feeding and mating in spite of considerable disturbance and proximity of a camera.

Chinery, M. (1973) A field guide to the insects of Britain and Northern Europe. Collins, London.

E.J.M. Kirby

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