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The Snow Scorpionflies, boreids, are small, only 4-5 mm long, rare insects. They are only to be found in cool forests of the northern hemisphere. They are so adapted to cold that they can easily die when a human holds them in his hand even if it is only for a few minutes. But they look really neat. On both sides of a miniature head are large eyes, with long delicate antennae protruding between them. The head part carrying the mandibles is drawn out into a long snout, giving them their Estonian name, koonlased, “snout-bearers”.

 

On the back of a male snow scorpionfly are wings, going backwards in an oddly curved shape to the abdomen. The wings are not usable for flying but on mating they help the female to get on to the back of the male. The male has a pair of claws on his abdomen, to hold the female during the mating.

 

The female insect is more solidly-built than the male. Of the wings only barely visible stumps remain. A sting that at first sight looks quite dangerous protrudes from the rear end of the abdomen. It is used for placing the eggs on moss stems. The young newly hatched larvae must grow for two years to become imagoes. They feed on what is left by others: plant or animal remains.

 

Winter scorpionfly imagoes can only be seen in winter – from the autumn months to late spring. In strong frost they will not come out, but when the  temperature rises to around zero they are soon busy on the snow.