The Florida scorpionfly, Panorpa floridana Byers, is a little-known insect, endemic to northern peninsular Florida. Knowledge of this species of scorpionfly (Panorpidae) is limited to five specimens, the last one collected in 1982. The apparent scarcity of this species, lack of known or published observations on living individuals, and its superficial resemblance to stinging arthropods prompted us to prepare this circular.

Want to know more? Visit the September 2012 Featured Creatures- Florida scorpionfly, Panorpa floridana Byers by Louis A. Somma and James C. Dunford, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry.

http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/MISC/scorpionfly.htm

Dr. Jennifer L. Gillett-Kaufman gillett@ufl.edu is the coordinator for UF-IFAS Featured Creatures. Florida scorpionfly is UF/IFAS publication number EENY-538.

Thanks to Dr. Jennifer Gillett-Kaufman for submitting this announcement to UF-IFAS Pest Alert.

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