Numbers
1 species in North America [
Merope tuber] (
nearctica.com)
2 species in the world [the other species, Austromerope pultoni, occurs only in southwestern Australia]
Identification
size and shape of male claspers is unique
body yellowish-brown; wings divided into many rectangular cells by numerous cross-veins; male with elongate, slender clasping structures at end of abdomen; female abdomen shorter, tapering to narrow tip
Range
Quebec, Ontario, and Maine to Georgia, west to Texas and Oklahoma, north to Minnesota
Habitat
densely-vegetated woodlands, often near water or wet seeps (similar to scorpionfly habitat); adults are nocturnal and attracted to light
Life Cycle
Very little is known about the biology or behavior of meropeids. Larvae of Merope tuber have never been discovered.
Remarks
The family was widespread in the Jurassic period from Australia to Antarctica, and from North America to South America. Merope tuber and Austromerope pultoni are ancient species left at the edges of the former range.
Print References
"A Study of Insects" 4th ed 1976 p.449 by Borror, Delong, and Triplehorn. An old University text.
Internet References
adult male images of
Merope tuber (D.S. Kjar, Georgetown U., Washington DC)
presence in Texas plus pinned adult images and common name references [Earwig Scorpionflies, Earwigflies] (Texas A&M U.)
description and history (George Byers, Emporia State U., Kansas)
various information on Mecoptera, including Meropeidae (Kari MacLauchlin, U. of Georgia, discoverlife.org)
description and biology; PDF doc plus images of male and female, and SEM images of stridulation organ (James Dunford
et al, Great Smoky Mountains National Park)
distribution of
Merope tuber in North America, and common name reference [Earwigflies] (Norman Penny, California Academy of Sciences)
presence in Quebec; PDF doc; list (Ghyslain Pothier, Corporation Entomofaune du Quebec)
common name reference [Earwig Scorpionflies] (U. of Florida)
common name reference [Forcepflies] (Insects of Cedar Creek, Minnesota)
