Panorpa communis
In 3 days ~30% in a week ~60%
Panorpa communis, the common scorpionfly, is a species of scorpionfly. This species is native to Europe (except Iceland and Ireland) and Northern Asia (except China). These scorpionflies can be usually found in hedgerows and patches of nettle.
Panorpa communis can reach a body length of about 30 millimetres (1.2 in). The common scorpionfly has a black and yellow body, with a reddish head and tail. The male has a pair of claspers at the end of its tail (for holding the female during mating), giving it a scorpion-like appearance, although it is not a stinger.
The adult insect has a wingspan of about 35 millimetres (1.4 in), with wings that are mostly clear, but have many dark spots or patches. Its head, mounted with large eyes, is drawn into a prominent, downward pointing beak, which opens at the tip of its head. Females are longer, heavier, and have longer legs than males.
In the female, the eighth abdominal segment is the shortest, almost twice shorter than the seventh; the sixth is narrowed towards the back. The larva resembles a caterpillar and grows up to 20 millimetres (0.79 in) long. It has three pairs of thoracic legs and eight... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Białowieża National Park | 🇵🇱 Poland | |
| 2 | Bavarian Forest National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 3 | Tatra National Park | 🇸🇰 Slovakia | |
| 4 | Mercantour National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 5 | Fertő-Hanság National Park | 🇭🇺 Hungary | |
| 6 | Snowdonia National Park | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 7 | Pyrénées National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 8 | Wadden Sea National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany |
No species of the same family or order lives in Białowieża National Park, so these are its closest relatives here: other insects.
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Common European Scorpionfly sighting in Białowieża National Park on a given day, based on 7 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 95th most-seen of the 158 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 60%, if each day is a fresh chance.
May and June
In those months about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Common European Scorpionfly in Białowieża National Park on a given day, against under 5% in August to April, the lowest months.
Between 1 and 4 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Common European Scorpionfly sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 8 parks where we can rate Common European Scorpionfly sightings, Białowieża National Park has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Bavarian Forest National Park (Germany, about 10%) and Tatra National Park (Slovakia, about 10%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Common European Scorpionfly is recorded against all the insects logged in Białowieża National Park (7 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
