Mecoptera - Scorpion flies

The name of this order, Mecoptera, is from the Greek words "meco" meaning long and "ptera" meaning wings. As you can see, the wings are quite long! These insects like to hang out in shady, cool leaves or near wetlands, and will feed on fruit, nectar, and pollen. They will also eat insects that are dead or dying, and can take an insect out of a spider web without getting stuck. I must have seen these Scorpion Flies in my lifetime, but probably thought they were some kind of mosquito, as its head extends to what almost looks like a beak. If you take the time to look more closely at the insects around you, what you see with your naked eye may not be what you think it is!

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