Pistillifera

Definition

A suborder of endopterygote insects within the order Mecoptera, comprising the scorpionflies (Panorpidae) and hangingflies (Bittacidae and relatives). Members are distinguished from the other mecopteran suborder, Raptipedia, by features of the male genitalia and wing venation; the name refers to the pistil-like (stalked) female genital structure in some groups. Described by R. Willmann in 1987, Pistillifera represents the bulk of living mecopteran diversity.

Etymology

From Latin pistillum (pestle, pistil) + -fera (bearing), referring to the elongated, stalk-like female genital structure.

Example

The common scorpionfly Panorpa communis and the hangingfly Bittacus italicus both belong to Pistillifera, whereas the snow scorpionflies (Boreidae) are placed in the suborder Raptipedia.

Related Terms

• Mecoptera
• Raptipedia
• scorpionfly
• hangingfly
• Panorpidae
• Bittacidae
• endopterygote
• holometabolous

Usage Notes

The division of Mecoptera into Pistillifera and Raptipedia reflects modern phylogenetic work; older literature may treat these groups as superfamilies or families without subordinal rank. The suborder is morphologically coherent but its monophyly relative to Raptipedia remains an active research question in mecopteran systematics. Use of Pistillifera is standard in current entomological taxonomy.