You may have never seen a mecopteran, such as a scorpionfly or a hangingfly, because the adults are so secretive. They hide out in dark, shaded woodlands. They don't fly much, spending most of their time sitting on leaves. Mating tends to occur at night. Mecopterans actually live all over the world, even in polar habitats. They prefer moist, shady conditions, like what you find in dense forests. Females lay eggs under damp leaves or soil on the forest floor, and the larvae develop in the dark hiding places. In polar areas, larvae may develop in clumps of moss surrounded by snow. Mecopterans are closely related to fleas and flies. But, mecopterans are larger, often with long, clear wings patterned with dark veins. Their heads are long too, narrowing down to where their mouthparts (mandibles) attach. Despite the sinister appearance created by their long, thin faces, they do not bite or sting.