order: Mecoptera Great Smoky Mountains National Park August 9, 2008 I heard a very "punny" joke that only an entomologist would appreciate during the Bugguide gathering! (Complements of Eric) Question: "What did the bartender say to the Scorpionfly?" Answer: "Why the long face?" These insects do have a very elongated head. :)The males also have an enlarged knob at the end of the abdomen which looks like a scorpion's stinger.
order: Mecoptera Great Smoky Mountains National Park August 9, 2008 I was very happy to get a better photo of a male Scorpionfly (its still not a sharp as I would like, but it beats the first one I took 5 years ago!). Unlike the venomous 8-legged scorpion, this 6-legged insect doesn't sting. The males have a little knob at the end of their abdomen that resembles a scorpion's stinger. Both the male and female have an interesting-looking, pointed head. These insects are quite distinctive looking.
Small winter Stonefly Isocapnia sp. Spring City, TN (Piney River) March 8, 2009
