Scorpion flies belong to an ancient group of insects known as ‘mecopterans’ which can be traced back more than 250 million years. They have a wingspan of approximately 35 mm; the body is up to 18 mm long. This unusual insect has four similar long, membranous yellow wings with a dark banded pattern. The head bears long, thread-like antennae and the mouthparts are at the end of an elongated ‘snout’ which is for chewing. Their diet consists mostly of dead insects, which they frequently steal from the webs of spiders.
