Scorpionfly, << SKAWR pee uhn `fly,` >> is an unusual insect that often has a long, pointy face. At the tip of the abdomen, the male has an enlarged body segment that curves up over the back. This segment resembles a scorpion’s stinger and gives the insect its name.
The scorpionfly is about 3/4 inch (20 millimeters) long. Its mouthparts are at the end of its face. It is not a true fly because it has four wings instead of two. The wings have many veins and are as long as the body. Adult scorpionflies live in woods or dense plant growth and eat chiefly insects. They lay eggs in cracks in the ground. The larvae, which resemble caterpillars, hatch in about a week and grow rapidly. They live on or in the soil and also feed on insects.
