iguanamouth:

hello heres a bug thats kind of both of those at once but also neither

the scorpionfly is a nickname for a bunch of bugs all in the mecoptera ( Long Wing ) order, and despite the way i introduced them the stinger up there is … completely harmless

most species dont even consume live food, instead scavenging decaying matter from animals, plants, you name it ( some of them are even known to steal wrapped up insects outta spiders webs ! )

only the males even have the tails, and they use them to Grasp onto their partners during reproduction (before which they cough up a little bit of Delectable Nutrient Rich Brown Spit to keep the females occupied, because its common for them to just turn around and eat the males if theyre not feeling it )

these ones are just the COMMON scorpionflies, though, and theyve got a ganglier and grabbier cousin

HANGINGFLIES, although very closely related, are active predators and spend time lying in wait on branches and leaves, grabbing whatever comes close enough – THEIR nuptial offering is usually an entire dead bug, which for me personally beats spit by a little bit. just a little bit though

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