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Archive 2016 · Male Scorpionfly Panorpa communis

  
 
e6filmuser
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Male Scorpionfly Panorpa communis


The Scorpionfly could be described as being on my “bucket list”, a long-held ambition to photograph one well.

I have had some previous encounters, usually with the insect being so evasive that I was unable to frame it. Last year I did get some images of one on a woodland floor but it kept moving away when I tried to get some more-aesthetic images.

These are possibly the most difficult of British flying insects to photograph. They fly away as soon as they detect your approach. This was what happened the previous day, when I found one on pre-flowering goldenrod. Some report that they will drop to the ground but I have not seen this.

This one, on culinary currant bushes, kept flying away to a nearby leaf but each time I got in a shot or two.

The stinger-like tail organ is harmless, bearing the external genitalia, but a captured male will use it to mimic a sting, striking at its captor, if it is captured.

I have called this species P. communis but cannot be sure that it is not P.germanica, the species being difficult to identify.

EM-1, Kiron 105mm f16, twin flash, 1/250 ISO 800.

Harold






© Harold Gough 2016





© Harold Gough 2016





© Harold Gough 2016





© Harold Gough 2016




Jun 18, 2016 at 12:14 AM
LordV
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Male Scorpionfly Panorpa communis


Wonderful series Harold
Brian v.



Jun 18, 2016 at 12:56 AM
e6filmuser
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Male Scorpionfly Panorpa communis


LordV wrote:
Wonderful series Harold
Brian v.


Thanks, Brian.

Unfortunately, the head-on shots were just OOF so I couldn't use them. Today is another day and I have something to look forward to. I suppose I should try for a stereo pair too. This individual (plus maybe others) seems to be resident.

Harold



Jun 18, 2016 at 01:16 AM
douter
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Male Scorpionfly Panorpa communis


What an interesting bug. Do they also sting like scorpions?
Douglas



Jun 18, 2016 at 08:14 AM
e6filmuser
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Male Scorpionfly Panorpa communis


douter wrote:
What an interesting bug. Do they also sting like scorpions?
Douglas


They go through the motions but have more piercing sting or venom. No male arthropod can "sting" as the stinger of those who can sting is a modified ovipositor.

Harold



Jun 18, 2016 at 08:24 AM
harshaj1
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Male Scorpionfly Panorpa communis


Menacing look and these are excellent captures. Interesting angle on #3. My favorite is the first one.
Harsha



Jun 18, 2016 at 10:02 AM
jfwoodman
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Male Scorpionfly Panorpa communis


Congrats on the terrific captures!! What an interesting insect. Thank you for sharing.

Jim



Jun 18, 2016 at 10:15 AM
e6filmuser
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Male Scorpionfly Panorpa communis


harshaj1 wrote:
Menacing look and these are excellent captures. Interesting angle on #3. My favorite is the first one.
Harsha


Thanks. I got some more shots today, possibly of a different species.

Also, I have just photographed yet another Dancefly, They have a similar-looking snout but no pseudo-stinger, and are much smaller insects.

jfwoodman wrote:
Congrats on the terrific captures!! What an interesting insect. Thank you for sharing.

Jim


Thanks. Just using my standard setup. I had been shooting much smaller insects, including Danceflies, when this one appeared. So a hasty wind out to a lower magnification, adjusted further once I had some keepers.

Harold



Jun 18, 2016 at 10:29 AM
CG_Photography
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Male Scorpionfly Panorpa communis


congrats on nailing a "bucket list" photo. That is a great feeling. Thanks for sharing


Jun 18, 2016 at 03:13 PM
birdied
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Male Scorpionfly Panorpa communis


Congratulations Harold ! You have some wonderful shots. I am glad you included the second shot, as those wings are amazing.

Birdie



Jun 18, 2016 at 04:32 PM
dbehrens
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Male Scorpionfly Panorpa communis


Awesome capture. Congratulations! Dave


Jun 18, 2016 at 07:32 PM
MarkB1
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Male Scorpionfly Panorpa communis


Very nice set Harold.


Jun 18, 2016 at 10:00 PM
e6filmuser
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Male Scorpionfly Panorpa communis


Thanks for you comments everyone.

With such a subject, you only have to get the basics right for the image to be impressive. That I was able to photograph this in my own garden makes me very thankful.

I will probably post the images of the second individual tomorrow.

Harold



Jun 19, 2016 at 01:40 AM
e6filmuser
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Male Scorpionfly Panorpa communis


It is now 9 days since the first close encounter with a Scorpionfly. I have seen one individual on each of those days, two at the same time on one occasion. There is clearly a resident population of these insects in the small plantation of very mature (20+ years) blackcurrant bushes.

Harold



Jun 27, 2016 at 10:34 AM





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