Macro Marvel: The Intriguing Scorpionfly of Kampina

While exploring the Kampina nature reserve near Oisterwijk, I encountered the fascinating Common Scorpionfly (Panorpa communis), or "beenschorpioenvlieg" in Dutch. Drawn by its distinctive patterned wings and the male's curved, red-tipped abdomen—resembling a scorpion's tail—I was compelled to capture its unique features. Utilizing my Canon 5D Mark III with the Canon MP-E 65mm 5x macro lens, I managed to photograph this elusive insect, despite its tendency to fly off before I could get close.

Scorpionflies are harmless insects belonging to the ancient order Mecoptera, dating back over 250 million years. The male's "tail" is actually a pair of claspers used during mating, not a stinger. These insects are scavengers, feeding on dead insects and sometimes stealing prey from spider webs. Their mating rituals are particularly intriguing; males present females with nuptial gifts, such as dead insects or saliva masses, to increase mating success.

Capturing this image was a rewarding challenge, highlighting the intricate beauty of this often-overlooked insect.

#PanorpaCommunis #Scorpionfly #Beenschorpioenvlieg #MacroPhotography #Canon5DMarkIII #CanonMPE65mm #Kampina #Oisterwijk #NoordBrabant #NetherlandsNature #InsectPhotography #WildlifePhotography #Mecoptera #NatureLovers #Entomology #MacroWorld #InsectMacro #FieldPhotography #NatureExploration #Biodiversity

This strange critter is Boreus brumalis, also known as a snow scorpionfly. As adults they spend much of their time directly on the snow, and are well-adapted to the cold; apparently they can't survive being held in a human hand because it's too warm.

#insect #scorpionfly #snowscorpionfly #boreus #macro #macrophotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #ontario #canada #snow #winter #inaturalist #arthropod #invertebrates

This #phytogeographical study of the montane #scorpionfly provides new insights into the importance of topographically rugged mountain systems in the #conservation of #evolutionary #diversity and endemic species.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jse.13150
@WileyEcolEvol
#evolution #ecology #insect

#schorpioenvlieg #duitseschorpioenvlieg #scorpionfly #germanscorpionfly #mouchescorpion #panorpe #panorpagermanica #insect