First noticed what I thought was a very small cricket jump on to a leaf but on closer inspection it appears to be a very small round bodied scorpion fly (see picture 1). Compared to what I normally see (see picture 2) it looked quite odd. Is it some immature form?
This is an adult female scorpionfly in the genus Panorpa; likely P. vulgaris -
see http://aramel.free.fr/Panorpa-vulgaris-f-2.jpg
Hi Flapdoodle, the one in the first picture was only half the length of the one in the second picture and very rounded body, which one are you saying is an adult female? Thanks for your help
They both are adult females. Like humans, there can be a great deal of individual variation in body size in some species of insects...
OK cheers
