Nutrition

Both male and female Panorpa sigmoides are scavengers.  They feed mostly on dead insects (Gordh and Headrick 2001), sometimes even stealing dead insects from spider webs (Resh and Cardel 2003).  This is very dangerous though.  Males are usually seen dead in these webs,  suggesting that they benefit in some way that makes stealing carcasses worth the risk.  Perhaps this is to impress females, because typically the males with more carcasses will be more successful in acquiring receptive females (Marshall 2006).  Less often, Panorpa sigmoides will feed on other dead organisms (small vertebrates) or even on pollen and parts of flowers (Resh and Cardel 2003).