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Photo#52364
Panorpa consuetudinis - male

Panorpa consuetudinis - Male
Fews Ford Section, Eno River State Park, Orange County, North Carolina, USA
May 13, 2006
Size: circa 15 mm
Size estimated, and would include the folded wings. Another shot shows the abdominal appendage characteristic of a male. Interesting, perhaps, on two counts. 1-It is taking nectar. I usually see Panorpa scavenging, if I see them feeding at all. 2-It is out in spring--I see these most commonly in fall. I see we have some May and June dates in the guide. I wonder if there are different species out in the fall. I met an expert on eastern Panorpa once, I'll have to try to get him to look at this genus.

I believe the plant is Cleavers, Galium species, perhaps Galium aparine.

Images of this individual: tag all
Panorpa consuetudinis - male Panorpa consuetudinis - male Panorpa consuetudinis - male

Moved tentatively

 
thanks, more images, in case helpful


Sorry not to have noticed the refinement of ID earlier. Thanks, as always, for everyone's assistance and contributions to BugGuide.

Moved
Moved from Panorpa.

This is NOT Panorpa banksiana
This is NOT Panorpa banksiana. In this locality this could be either Panorpa consuetudinis or P. isolata, based on the presence of the two submarginal spots of the wing. I have however, found P. consuetudinis in this county, so that may be the identity of this insect.

several very similar NC species
This looks to me like P. consuetudinis Snodgrass or P. banksiana Penny and Byers. There are several very similar species in North Carolina and it is hard to distinguish them without examining the male genitalia.

There are some accounts in the literature of Panorpa feeding on berries. This photograph capturing one feeding on nectar is great.

 
Thanks very much
Thanks, Joshua, I had met you previously at an NC Entomological Society meeting, and had wanted to consult you on Panorpa, but had lost your e-mail. (You were the expert I referred to above, of course.) Any expertise you can contribute on Mecoptera (or other insects), is much appreciated.

 
Sure.
No problem, Patrick. I'll do what I can. :)

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