The body of the scorpionfly is divided into a head (cephalon), thorax and abdomen. The head is characteristically elongated into a beak, the mouth apparatus are located at the end of the beak. In addition, a pair of compound eyes and a pair of long, filamentous antennae are found on the head. There are three thoracic somites, pro-, meso- and metathorax; the first is small, and the second and third are large. Each segment bears a pair of legs. The first pair is smaller and oriented forward. The last two pairs of legs are larger, with strong femurs and face backwards. Moderately densely veined membranous wings are also found on the second and third thoracic segments. The wings are transparent with irregular dark patterns. When at rest, they are folded flat, slightly at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the body. The back is articulated. In males the end of the back is modified into an inflated penis with pincers, which resembles a scorpion’s anal fin transformed into a venomous stinger.

The scorpionfly family is small and consists of approximately 300 species, of which five are found in Slovenia. Scorpionflies are forest dwellers; they seek shady and moist places on trees and bushes. They are mostly scavengers, less often predators. The male and female communicate with each other before mating with a vibratory courtship song. They trigger vibrations of the substrate by shaking their wings and back. The larvae, like the adults, feed on carrion.