Boreidae

Definition

A small family of scorpionflies (order Mecoptera) comprising approximately 30 species of small, wingless or short-winged insects commonly known as snow scorpionflies or snow fleas. Members are restricted to boreal forests and high-altitude habitats of the Northern Hemisphere, where adults are active on snow during late winter and early spring. Larvae develop in moss and leaf litter. The family is distinguished from other Mecoptera by reduced or absent wings in females and brachypterous males with hook-like wings used to grasp females during mating.

Etymology

Example

Boreus hyemalis, a widespread Holarctic species, is frequently observed walking on snow in coniferous forests during February and March, feeding on moss sporophytes.

Synonyms

• Snow scorpionflies

Related Terms

• Mecoptera
• scorpionfly
• Boreus
• Boreal
• brachypterous
• Apterous

Usage Notes

The common name 'snow flea' is also applied to springtails (Collembola, Hypogastrura nivicola and allies), which are unrelated and much smaller; context is required to distinguish these. Boreidae are the only Mecoptera with functionally wingless females. The family is sometimes grouped with Panorpidae and other families in the superfamily Panorpoidea, though relationships within Mecoptera remain under study.