Fake Stinger - _TNY_8039
Came across this male common scorpionfly (Panorpa communis) in the garden today and he let me get several shots.
That red thing that look like a stinger on the end of the tail is in fact two claspers which he uses to hold the female (who doesn't have them) during mating - but it really has the appearance of a scorpion stinger.
The female looks like this: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/38170375481/
Fake Stinger - _TNY_8039
Came across this male common scorpionfly (Panorpa communis) in the garden today and he let me get several shots.
That red thing that look like a stinger on the end of the tail is in fact two claspers which he uses to hold the female (who doesn't have them) during mating - but it really has the appearance of a scorpion stinger.
The female looks like this: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/38170375481/