biostudies-literatureUnknown11Soszynska-Maj ASexual conflict - opposite reproductive/genetic interests between sexes - can be a significant driver of insect evolution. Scorpionflies (Insecta: Mecoptera) are models in sexual conflict research due to their large variety of mating practices, including coercive behaviour and nuptial gift provisioning. However, the role of palaeontology in sexual conflict studies remains negligible, namely due to the paucity of well-preserved fossils. Here, we describe three male scorpionflies from Cretaceous and Eocene ambers. The structure of notal and postnotal organs is analysed in extant and extinct forms; a depression below the base of the notal organ in different panorpid species spatially matches the anterior fold of the female's wing. Based on disparate abdominal configurations and correlations ieLifee70508https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8983043biostudies-literatureEvolution of sexual conflict in scorpionflies.PMC8983043Krzeminska ESzpila KKopec KKrzeminski WWang JSSkibinska KPerez-de la Fuente RSoszynska-Maj AfalseEvolution of sexual conflict in scorpionflies.Sexual conflict - opposite reproductive/genetic interests between sexes - can be a significant driver of insect evolution. Scorpionflies (Insecta: Mecoptera) are models in sexual conflict research due to their large variety of mating practices, including coercive behaviour and nuptial gift provisioning. However, the role of palaeontology in sexual conflict studies remains negligible, namely due to the paucity of well-preserved fossils. Here, we describe three male scorpionflies from Cretaceous and Eocene ambers. The structure of notal and postnotal organs is analysed in extant and extinct forms; a depression below the base of the notal organ in different panorpid species spatially matches the anterior fold of the female's wing. Based on disparate abdominal configurations and correlations i2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Feb2025-04-26T15:12:40.376Z2025-04-06T14:50:35.825ZS-EPMC89830433514708010.7554/eLife.70508