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Scorpion fly (Panorpa germanica) This is the tail the scorpion fly gets his name for. It is not used for stinging but used in mating. The females do not have the scorpion like tail. While mating the females drink nutritious saliva from the males. The males have developed enlarged salivary glands so they can mate longer. The mating can be seen on the &#039;paarung&#039; vide in the video section.<br />
This saliva drinking behavior earned the scorpion fly the #4 place in the &#039;Times Top 10 weird mating rituals&#039;.<br />
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In Dutch: Duitse schorpioenvlieg Duitse schorpioenvlieg,Geotagged,German Scorpionfly,Mecoptera,Panorpa,Panorpa germanica,Panorpidae,The Netherlands Click/tap to enlarge Species introCountry intro

Scorpion fly (Panorpa germanica)

This is the tail the scorpion fly gets his name for. It is not used for stinging but used in mating. The females do not have the scorpion like tail. While mating the females drink nutritious saliva from the males. The males have developed enlarged salivary glands so they can mate longer. The mating can be seen on the 'paarung' vide in the video section.
This saliva drinking behavior earned the scorpion fly the #4 place in the 'Times Top 10 weird mating rituals'.

In Dutch: Duitse schorpioenvlieg

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Panorpa germanica (German Scorpionfly) is one of the most common species of Skorpionfly in large parts of Europe.

Similar species: Scorpionflies And Allies
Species identified by Pudding4brains
View Joost Thissen's profile

By Joost Thissen

Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives
Uploaded May 31, 2012. Captured May 19, 2012 11:48 in Genneperweg 142, 5644 Gestel, The Netherlands.
  • SLT-A55V
  • f/3.2
  • 1/160s
  • ISO800
  • 90mm