Description: Chorista australis is a species of scorpionfly in the family Choristidae on what appears to be a dried head of Phalaris aquatica. Gundaroo Common, Gundaroo NSW Australia, April 2011. There are about 30 species of scorpionfly in Australia, only a few species are found in this area. This scorpionfly is about 20 mm long; has a head that looks like it belongs on a dragon; long antennae with the first 2-3 segments a red-brown colour; strong, dark veins in its wing; and distinct pterostigma. The hallmarks of Chorista australis. EF Reik reports the adults emerging in late summer and autumn (tick), generally observed in moist grassy situations (tick), and only occur in the wetter areas (Well, it has been very wet this year. Where do they go for the 10 or so years of intervening drought?).
A revision of Australian scorpion flies of the family Choristidae (Mecoptera), EF Reik, Australian Journal of Entomology, Volume 12, Issue 2, pages 103–112, June 1973. Date: 2 April 2011, 10:11. Source:
Scorpionfly. Author:
John Tann from Sydney, Australia. Camera location
35° 01′ 48″ S, 149° 16′ 26.4″ E View all coordinates using:
OpenStreetMap-35.030000; 149.274000.
