BRITISH INSECTS 



4. Sub-Order Planipennia (Scorpion Flies and Lace- 



WINCS) 



This large Sub-Order contains a great many different 

 families both at home and abroad, but we can only hope 

 to give place here to a few of these. 



The Scorpion Fly [Panorpa communis, Fig. 25), belongs 



to the family Panorpidce, which scientific name has been 

 accorded because of the curious end of the abdomen 

 ill the male. The eggs are laid under ground, and the 

 larva feeds upon decaying vegetable matter, or rotten 

 wood. When full-fed, it burrows deeper in the soil, 

 and emerges after about a fortnight in the pupal state. 

 It is then polished black, with yellow legs, and trans- 

 parent wings having brown spots. Although an active 

 species, and perhaps fearsome-looking, the Scorpion 

 *Fly is immune from harm to human folk. 

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