Panorpa communis

One of two very common species of scorpionfly in Norfolk, often found resting on vegetation during the day-time mostly between mid May and June. but sometimes up to early September. Brock has given this species the vernacular name Common Scorpionfly but this is not (yet) in widespread use.

Males are identified by the shape of the callipers on the top of their genital capsule. Actually, technically it's the bottom of the genital capsule, but since this is normally curved back over the rest of the abdomen so that it's upside-down, the callipers appear on top. These can be seen in a good quality sharp photo but I would advise checking the back of your camera to ensure they are clearly visible before leaving the insect, and catching it if necessary for closer examination. For communis the callipers are finer at the tips compared to germanica but the tips do not diverge as much as in the scarcer cognata.

male Panorpa communis showing callipers in genital capsule, Wendling Beck Environment Project (Norfolk, UK), 26th May 2023

Beware poor quality photos of the callieprs which may be misleading. Here the darkened tips of the callipers almost disappear into the background so the only bit of the callipers that is clearly visible are the paler arms basal to where they start converging. If you thought these were the tips of the calliper you might deduce that the callipers were divergent and misidentify it as cognata.

male Panorpa communis showing callipers in genital capsule, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows (Norfolk, UK), 28th May 2018

2 x male Panorpa communis showing callipers in genital capsule (first photo is different individual to the one in the other 3 photos), Ling Plantation, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 1st June 2022

Females are identified by the shape of the ovipositor, but this is hidden inside the abdomen so this does require dissection.

female Panorpa communis showing ovipositor, Wendling Beck Environment Project (Norfolk, UK), 14th May 2022

female Panorpa communis showing ovipositor, Wendling Beck Environment Project (Norfolk, UK), 24th June 2022

male Panorpa communis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows (Norfolk, UK), 25th May 2018

male Panorpa communis, Ling Plantation, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 4th June 2022

female Panorpa communis showing ovipositor, Holt Lowes (Norfolk, UK), 13th June 2017

female Panorpa communis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows (Norfolk, UK), 3rd June 2018

female Panorpa communis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows (Norfolk, UK), 6th June 2018

female Panorpa communis, Ringstead (Norfolk, UK), 24th June 2017

female Panorpa communis, Great Ryburgh (Norfolk, UK), 16th June 2017

female Panorpa communis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows (Norfolk, UK), 29th June 2019

male Panorpa communis, Wendling Beck Environment Project (Norfolk, UK), 2nd June 2022

male Panorpa communis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows (Norfolk, UK), 21st June 2019

male Panorpa communis, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows (Norfolk, UK), 23rd July 2018

male Panorpa communis, Hell Pit, Longham (Norfolk, UK), 28th May 2016

female Panorpa communis, Holt Lowes (Norfolk, UK), 13th June 2017 (different to the one shown above)