Explanation of Names
From Greek mecos 'long' + pteron 'wing'
Numbers
85 spp. in 11 genera and 5 families in our area; up to 600 spp. in 8 families worldwide (the 3 tiny families that do not occur in NA are restricted to Australia and the 'Gondwanian' parts of South America)
(1)(2); 12 spp. of 3 families in FL
(3), at least 14 spp. in 4 families in QC
(4), 9 spp. in 4 families in CA
(5)
Overview of our fauna:
(* –taxa not yet in the guide)
Order Mecoptera
Identification
head extended downward, giving a long, horse-like "face"
in several groups tip of abdomen swollen in male, resembling stinger of a scorpion (but none sting or have venom)
typically four membranous wings (pigmented or clear), forewings and hindwings about the same size
antennae thread-like (
filiform), with 14 or more segments, often half of body length or longer
tarsi five-segmented
larvae of boreids and panorpids resemble beetle grubs; in other families larvae may have
prolegs and are caterpillar-like
(6). Some larvae have compound eyes (unique among
holometabolous larvae).
(7)
Keys to families and subordinate taxa in
(8)(9)(7)(10)(2)Food
Adults feed mostly on small insects, but also on petals, nectar, fruits, pollen, leaves, and mosses.
Panorpa will feed on insects trapped in spider webs and on decaying animal matter. Bittacidae catch prey with specialized hind legs, inject it with saliva and suck out the insides. Some eat plants, scraping the top layer off leaves.
(8)(11)Life Cycle
Males have enlarged salivary glands and product large quantities of saliva, which is eaten by the females during copulation.
(12)
Can have 4 larval stages.
(12)