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Panorpa germanica male typical Male Panorpa germanica with middle of the road typical wing pattern for this species. Genital bulb with short and broad hypovalves.<br /> <br /> Refer to this image for an explanation of what to look for in the pattern:<br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/62317/panorpa_germanica_heavily_marked_with_notes.html" title="Panorpa germanica heavily marked with notes"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3043/62317_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=E5fA%2Folx6MM0VEJUA%2BsZtqwtKbg%3D" width="200" height="150" alt="Panorpa germanica heavily marked with notes Female Panorpa germanica with &quot;heavier&quot; than average wing pattern expression.<br /> 1) Quite typical for this species is that the three triangular spots across from the pterostigma are roughly the same size. In comparably patterned vulgaris/communis the basal one will be large and the middle one smaller.<br /> 2) Normally across from the third spot there is _no_ spot close to the pterostigma (empty circle), where in the other species this area will be spotted.<br /> 3) The spots marked with !! are normally separated in P. germanica and remain so very long while the pattern grows heavier during wing colour development. In this specimen the spots are fused in the left fore wing (marked ?) so this does happen, but a heavily marked specimen with non-fused &quot;twin spot&quot; will likely be germanica.<br /> <br /> Always look at _all_ the characters mentioned here to assess the wing as a whole!! Aberrations in one of the characters are frequent, but all three is very very unlikely :o) <br /> <br /> Here is a male with an &quot;average&quot;, more open wing pattern for comparison, where you can clearly also recognize the patterns indicated:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/62319/panorpa_germanica_male_typical.html<br /> Do always keep in mind that for males it is more secure to check clear morphological traits such as shown here:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/62318/panorpa_germanica_notal_organ.html German Scorpionfly,Mecoptera,Panorpa,Panorpa ID help,Panorpa germanica,Panorpidae,Scorpionfly" /></a></figure><br /> <br /> On male Panorpa germanica also look for the &quot;huge&quot; notal organ indicated in the image below. It is visible in the image above too, but more hidden in the shadow of the wings ;o)<br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/62318/panorpa_germanica_notal_organ.html" title="Panorpa germanica notal organ"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3043/62318_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=exqVI%2FDgxb58WUMrYK3HPqUfny8%3D" width="200" height="150" alt="Panorpa germanica notal organ Collage of male Panorpa germanica with the large notal organ typical for males of this species indicated.<br /> The inset above shows the short and broad hypovalves on the calliper, that are typical for P.germanica (and the extremely rare P.hybrida).<br /> <br /> The notal organ is a &quot;clamp&quot; located dorsally on the hind margin of the 3rd abdominal tergite that is used to firmly hold the wing of the female during copula, preventing her from pulling loose without risk of damaging her wing. All species have this, but on P.germanica and P.hybrida it is exceptionally large. German Scorpionfly,Mecoptera,Panorpa,Panorpa ID help,Panorpa germanica,Panorpidae,Scorpionfly" /></a></figure> German Scorpionfly,Mecoptera,Panorpa,Panorpa ID help,Panorpa germanica,Panorpidae,Scorpionfly Click/tap to enlarge

Panorpa germanica male typical

Male Panorpa germanica with middle of the road typical wing pattern for this species. Genital bulb with short and broad hypovalves.

Refer to this image for an explanation of what to look for in the pattern:

Panorpa germanica heavily marked with notes Female Panorpa germanica with "heavier" than average wing pattern expression.<br /> 1) Quite typical for this species is that the three triangular spots across from the pterostigma are roughly the same size. In comparably patterned vulgaris/communis the basal one will be large and the middle one smaller.<br /> 2) Normally across from the third spot there is _no_ spot close to the pterostigma (empty circle), where in the other species this area will be spotted.<br /> 3) The spots marked with !! are normally separated in P. germanica and remain so very long while the pattern grows heavier during wing colour development. In this specimen the spots are fused in the left fore wing (marked ?) so this does happen, but a heavily marked specimen with non-fused "twin spot" will likely be germanica.<br /> <br /> Always look at _all_ the characters mentioned here to assess the wing as a whole!! Aberrations in one of the characters are frequent, but all three is very very unlikely :o) <br /> <br /> Here is a male with an "average", more open wing pattern for comparison, where you can clearly also recognize the patterns indicated:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/62319/panorpa_germanica_male_typical.html<br /> Do always keep in mind that for males it is more secure to check clear morphological traits such as shown here:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/62318/panorpa_germanica_notal_organ.html German Scorpionfly,Mecoptera,Panorpa,Panorpa ID help,Panorpa germanica,Panorpidae,Scorpionfly


On male Panorpa germanica also look for the "huge" notal organ indicated in the image below. It is visible in the image above too, but more hidden in the shadow of the wings ;o)
Panorpa germanica notal organ Collage of male Panorpa germanica with the large notal organ typical for males of this species indicated.<br /> The inset above shows the short and broad hypovalves on the calliper, that are typical for P.germanica (and the extremely rare P.hybrida).<br /> <br /> The notal organ is a "clamp" located dorsally on the hind margin of the 3rd abdominal tergite that is used to firmly hold the wing of the female during copula, preventing her from pulling loose without risk of damaging her wing. All species have this, but on P.germanica and P.hybrida it is exceptionally large. German Scorpionfly,Mecoptera,Panorpa,Panorpa ID help,Panorpa germanica,Panorpidae,Scorpionfly

    comments (3)

  1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
    Ferdy Christant
    Lion
    View Lion class
    Thank you so much Arp for this very useful information, I'll be sure to refer to it next time! Posted 7 years ago
    1. View Pudding4brains's profile
      Pudding4brains
      Lion
      View Lion class
      I'll try to find some more old explanatory images back ... used to have many of these as support for discussions in other fora but most of those are gone now (either due to the site disappearing, or data crashes or incompatibility with new software versions or whatever). So it would be good to give them a new home here :o) Posted 7 years ago
      1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
        Ferdy Christant
        Lion
        View Lion class
        Please do, I'll do everything in my power to keep them online! Posted 7 years ago

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The German Scorpionfly

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

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Similar species: Scorpionflies And Allies
Species identified by Pudding4brains
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By Pudding4brains

Public Domain
Uploaded Jul 1, 2018.
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