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Photographer:
Paul Zborowski
www.close-up-photolibrary.com
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Scorpion-flies
Class: Insecta
Phylum: Arthropoda
Order: Mecoptera
Description:
Slender insects with 2 pairs of wings, though one species is wingless. The wings have many cross-veins and span up to 50mm. Mouthparts are at the end of a 'beak'-like projection on the head. Many males have large genitalia that look like the stinging tails of scorpions. Found in forests and along water-courses. Eat other insects, but some are vegetarian. Predators are mainly web-building spiders. |
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