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The scorpionflies and hangingflies range from small to medium in size (species vary from 3-30mm long)
It's amazing Male scorpionflies have a bulbous and dangerous-looking sting at the end of their very mobile tail (actually the genitalia); if picked-up the scorpionfly will pretend to sting you or a potential predator - very off-putting!
Number of species
- In Britain 4 species (3 scorpionflies and 1 Snow flea).
- Worldwide 500 known species.
July 11, 2013 — Researchers from the University of Alaska Fairbanks (Derek Sikes and Jill Stockbridge) discovered a strange new insect on Prince of Wales Island, Alaska. It belongs to an enigmatic group that might help scientists understand the evolutionary origin of the Fleas. The new species belongs to the insect order Mecoptera which includes the scorpionflies, hangingflies, and snow scorpionflies.
These tiny (2 mm) flea-like animals feed on a leafy liverwort that grows in coastal forests.