Scorpionflies are named because of the external male genitalia which resemble the stingers of scorpions. Scorpionflies cannot sting. Females do not have this structure. Hangingflies are in the same order (Mecoptera) as scorpionflies, but they belong to their own family (Bittacidae).

Where did the scorpionfly come from?

They are found from May-July. This species of hangingfly is found is found from Vermont and New Hampshire south to Alabama and west to Oklahoma and Wyoming. This species of scorpionfly is found is found from New England south to Tennessee and west to Ohio.

Are scorpionflies rare?

The first description of this species of scorpionfly (Panorpidae) in 1993 was limited to five specimens, the last one collected in 1982 (Byers 1993; Somma and Dunford 2008). This species has only been found in Alachua and Clay counties and was historically considered to be extremely rare (Somma et al. 2013).