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Common Name: Scorpionfly
Order: Mecoptera
Family: Panorpidae
Pest Status: Scorpionflies feed on dead insects and are not
considered pests of people.
Appearance: This insect has four, long, narrow, membranous,
yellow wings with dark, brown-banded patterns. The antennae are
long and thread-like and the mouthparts are located at the end of an
elongated “snout.” The body is up to 1-inch long and is unique due
to the recurved, bulbous abdomen that resembles a scorpion.
Life Cycle: Adult female scorpionflies lay small masses of eggs
in the soil. When they hatch, the larvae live and grow near the soil
surface before pupating in underground cells. The pupae
overwinter and adults emerge in summer.
Where to Collect: Scorpionflies occur in wooded areas and ravines
with dense vegetation.
Photo Credit: John Obermeyer, Purdue University
Common Name: Seedcorn beetle
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Carabidae
Pest Status: Seedcorn beetles can become serious pests of newly
emerging corn plants, and especially during cold or wet conditions
when emergence is delayed.
Appearance: Adults are small, slender, flattened, brown beetles
that sometimes have two darkened stripes on their wing covers.
Life Cycle: Seedcorn beetles overwinter as adults or pupae. The
eggs are deposited on seeds, emerging plants and in decaying material.
After two days, larvae hatch and develop into adults within the
soil. There are approximately three generations per year.
Where to Collect: They are usually in high numbers when cool,
wet weather occurs. They are highly attracted to lights.
Photo Credit: John Obermeyer, Purdue University
Common Name: Silverfish
Order: Thysanura
Family: Lepismatidae
Pest Status: Siverfish are only considered a nuisance pest when
they get into homes. There they are difficult to control.
Appearance: Adults are slender, wingless, soft-bodied insects,
approximately ½-inch in length. They resemble a fish due to their
shiny silver, scaly bodies that taper gradually to the rear.
Silverfish have two slender antennae in front and three long a
ppendages in back.
Life Cycle: Silverfish females lay their eggs singly or in small
groups that hatch in about three weeks. Young silverfish resemble
adults except they gradually take on the adult color within a month.
Adults are long-lived, sometimes from two to eight years.
Where to Collect: Silverfish normally live outdoors under rocks,
bark, and leaf mold; in the nests of birds; and in ant nests. They can
also be found in houses in bathtubs, sinks, or washbasins.
Photo Credit: John Obermeyer, Purdue University