| A most unusual group of
insects are the Snake Flies, of which there are just four UK species and
about 20 living in Europe. They are best looked for on the trunks of Oak
and Pine trees. All four of the UK species belong to the Raphidiidae
family and are terrestial insects. The larvae live on or under loose
bark and feed on other insects. Females can be distinguished from males
by the presence of a long ovipositor. The adults emerge from early May
onwards and are thought to spend most of their time in the tops of
trees, accounting for the general scarcity of sightings. Snake Flies are poorly recorded insects, but
they are certainly some of the strangest and most
difficult to find. |
