Can someone ID this little bug ??

[rudi]

Shot this little bug a few days ago.

Can someone identify this little bug ?

C&C welcomed as Always.

[marlunn]

scorpion fly sp. - female,
Nice shots,

I would not try to be more specific as i dont have the ref book for them I am sure there will be others that can tie it down further
male looks like this -



you can see why they get their name

[rudi]

Thanks for the ID Mark.

[Shadowman]

Nice capture, lucky you.

[rudi]

Nice capture, lucky you.

Thanks John. And yes indeed, I was Lucky.

[Cliff Roamer]

Nice shots, they look mean, everything bites me

[deetheturk]

Never seen one of these yet, nice captures!

[Suzan J]

Nice bug and great capture, Rudi. I see you are posting from Belgium. No offense but I hope your critter stays there. He has one nasty tail.

[rudi]

Nice shots, they look mean, everything bites me

Thanks Mike, I have not been bitten, yet...

[rudi]

Never seen one of these yet, nice captures!

Thanks David, I do not see them very often. Not yet seen a male, not looked closely enough I guess...

[rudi]

Nice bug and great capture, Rudi. I see you are posting from Belgium. No offense but I hope your critter stays there. He has one nasty tail.

Thanks Suzan, you are most kind.
I googled the scorpion fly and found out that 'the scorpion like tail' has no sting and therefor compeltely harmless. It is a genital bulb used during mating... Hope you feel better now, I do for sure.....

[Geoff F]

To get an identification you need to shoot the male tail from the correct angle. Above and slightly in front so the central markings are clear. Not easy to achieve but possible sometimes. Females need to be dissected for identification.

That long pointed mouth can be used to good effect when they are consuming various soft bodied prey, such as caterpillars etc.

[rudi]

To get an identification you need to shoot the male tail from the correct angle. Above and slightly in front so the central markings are clear. Not easy to achieve but possible sometimes. .

Thanks for info Geoff, I try remembering it when I see a male .....