Hine 1901
Diagnosis (Adapted from Webb et al., 1975): Wings with clear background color, crossveins lightly margined. Apical band dark brown, broken posteriorly. Pterostigmal band brown, continuous. Basal band reduced to two large spots. Marginal spots absent. Male terminalia pale to dark yellow. Ninth tergum deeply emarginate. Hypovalves broad and ending well before base of dististyle. Ventral parameres elongate, narrow, unbranched, barbed and curved; reaching base of dististyle. Dististyle lobed, smaller than basistyle.
P. claripennis is one of the more commonly collected scorpionflies, and appears relatively early in the season. Specimens were collected as early as May and as late as August. P. claripennis is easily confused with P. debilis, as noted below.
Most records are from floodplain or similar poorly drained habitats, where this species can often be seen on Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) foliage. Panorpa claripennis is a characteristic northern species occurring in the eastern provinces and adjacent states, although Webb et al. (1975) cite an isolated record from Florida.