Riddells Creek - Scorpion Flies (also known as Hanging Flies)
(click on the name or the picture for a larger/better picture)

	Common Name	Scientific Name (Family)
1	Unknown Scorpion Fly	Unknown (Bittacidae)

Scorpion Flies (or Hanging Flies) are insects (Class Insecta) are alone in Australia in the Order
Mecoptera. There are 27 species of Scorpion Fly in Australia. They often just 'hang' by their
two front legs and sometimes the body is curled up like the stinging part of a scorpion.

Is it a Scorpion Fly or a Crane Fly (or fly)? The main differences are:
a) 2 pairs of wings (crane flies and flies have one pair). Although some Scorpion Flies are wingless.
b) Mouthparts include a mandible at the end of a beak-like projection on the head.
c) Very long spindly legs with strong claws.
d) Long antennae.

We haven't yet found a good book or website to ID Scorpion Flies but a good general book for insects is:
"A Field Guide to Insects in Australia" by Paul Zborowski & Ross Storey. If you find a better book let us know.

More about Insects & other Invertebrate classes.

We'd like to acknowledge Wendy Moore for her help in identification on this page.

If you've seen a Scorpion Fly in Riddells Creek that isn't on this list please let
us know ... we'd love to add it to our list.

All photos are taken in Riddells Creek. If you have photos taken in Riddells Creek
and would like to submit them, send them to Russell & Gill Best.

All photos ©Riddells Creek Landcare or Photographer.

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