Available 24/7, 365 Days/Year
877-927-2521
About Scorpion Flies
About Scorpion Flies
Of course, there are millions of insects in our environment, but this particular insect is one of a kind. With a striking resemblance to scorpions, scorpion flies are of great importance in our ecosystem, as they greatly help in pollination and other important things in our ecosystem. Do you want to know more about this flying insect? Right here, we will be sharing some of its distinctive features. This includes its appearance, behavior, habitat, and other important things you need to know about it.
Appearance
The name “scorpion” is attributed to this particular fly mainly because the males have enlarged genitalia and abdomens that look like the stinger and tail of a scorpion. But biologically, these insects can’t sting humans. Below are some of the physical features that distinguish it;
- Wings: Scorpion flies are flying insects that barely land on surfaces. To keep up with this, they have two pairs of well-developed wings.
- Legs: Since they are not the type known to walk around, the main objective of the leg is to trap their prey. To achieve this purpose, they have a strong pair of hind legs that are highly flexible.
Despite having well-developed wings, scorpion flies fly in an erratic pattern that is very slow compared to other insects.
Behavior
When flying around, scorpion flies look very alarming like it is going to attack anyone around it. But in reality, this insect is completely harmless and does not attack humans in any way. To increase their chances of survival, they breed in large groups, instead of remaining as mated pairs. Depending on the species of the scorpion fly, they are predatory when at the larva stage of their life cycle. While at this stage, the larvae look like a typical caterpillar with short antennae and a pair of compound eyes. At the point when they are about to pupate and transform into adults, the scorpion flies bury themselves under the ground in loose soil and emerge as adult flies. The mating ritual of scorpion flies is an interesting one. To entice a mate, the male offers different offerings of prey to its partner. This kind of offering comes from many male scorpion flies and the choice of who to mate with depends on who brings the most prey offerings. In order to stay hidden from predators and also potential prey, scorpion flies suspend themselves on plant branches. This allows them to blend in with their surroundings and also pounce on prey.
Habitat
These insects are most distributed in places near water bodies, but they don’t live on the water. They stay near places like this in order to have direct access to cool, and moist vegetation. Unlike other insects, scorpion flies don’t fly into homes. Although, they might accidentally fly in without knowing where they are going.
Damage They Cause
Despite being an insect with a frightening appearance, scorpion flies do not cause any damage to homes. They don’t even stay around homes. If you see them flying around, you can be sure that they are only around for a certain period and will leave soon.
Infestation Signs
Since scorpion flies don’t cause any serious damage to homes and won’t invade homes, the signs of a scorpion fly infestation are not that obvious. Although, you might find them flying around your vegetation whenever the intensity of sunlight is low.
How to Get Rid of Them
If you have scorpion flies around your home and you can’t wait till they move somewhere else, the best thing you can do is to trap them using an insect sticky trap. To achieve good results, you need to also remove all the standing water sources around your home.
Pest Control Professional
Pest Information is a non-profit organization, offers pest control resources, as well as bug and insect pictures, information, facts, and more.
Newsletter
Recent Posts
Catagories
Categories
202-555-0142
Related articles
