Mecoptera ~ Scorpionflies, Hangingflies

Although there are very few of these species in our area, they are notable. Our one species of scorpionfly resembles a moth at first glance and hangingflies may look like craneflies. Adults and larvae have chewing mouthparts and scavenge dead insects and plant material. Adults also prey on small insects and are known to steal prey out of spider webs. Mecopterans have four nearly equal wings. Members of this order develop through complete metamorphosis: larva (usually with four stages), pupa, then adult. Larvae are generally more terrestrial than adults. Size is medium, around 20 mm in length. There is little problem in identification with this order: there are only two species in our area and they are easy to distinguish. These are the Families of Mecoptera (scorpionflies and hangingflies) likely to be encountered in Austin, Texas:

Panorpidae [scorpionflies]

Bittacidae [hangingflies]