Order - MECOPTERA
(Greek, meco = long; pteron = wing)
Common Names: scorpion-flies, hanging flies
Distribution: Cosmopolitan

Description
The name "scorpion fly" comes from the habit of male members in one family of carrying the last few abdominal segments upcurled and resembling the tail of a scorpion. Members of this order have two pairs of narrow wings. The head is elongated into a beak or rostrum. Well developed mandibles are present and the compound eyes are large and separate. The antennae are long and composed of short, straight segments (filiform). The legs are long and spindly. Some Australian scorpion flies inhabit long grass or shrubby areas, frequently at the edges of streams and suspend themselves by the forelegs with the hind legs "dangling" freely in order to grasp prey as it flies past. Other species actively hunt caterpillars or similar prey. Courtship involves scent (pheromone) attraction of the females by the males who have a gift of a meal offering - a captured insect etc. An attracted female inspects the offered meal and if it is accepted, she mates with the male while consuming it.

Larva
Development follows a metamorphic cycle of egg, larva, pupa and adult. Larvae appear grub-like and have 6 legs on the thorax. The larvae always have a hard chitinised head capsule with antennae and mandibles. Larvae may have prolegs but these lack crochets.

Members
Scorpion flies, hanging flies.

Food
Mecopterans feed on other insects. Juvenile stages such as caterpillars may also be actively hunted.

Importance
Scorpion flies play an important role as insect predators in ecosystem food chains.