Hesperoboreus
Penny, 1977
Hesperoboreus is a of (: ) established by Norman Penny in 1977. Members of this genus are small, adapted to cold environments. The genus is distinguished from the related Boreus by morphological features of the male . Very few observations exist, with only three records documented on iNaturalist as of the knowledge cutoff.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Hesperoboreus: //ˌhɛspəroʊˈbɔːriəs//
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Identification
Distinguished from the Boreus by characteristics of the male , particularly the structure of the and . Males possess abdominal used to grasp females during mating. Like all , are completely wingless with reduced, non-functional in females represented only as small . Body is slender and dark-colored.
Habitat
Cold, moist environments including snowfields, moss , and forest litter in montane and regions.
Distribution
Western North America.
Seasonality
Active during winter months when temperatures are near freezing; have been observed on snow.
Behavior
are known to walk on snow surfaces during winter. Males use abdominal to grasp females during mating.