Mecoptera
Guides
Aneuretopsychidae
Aneuretopsychidae is an extinct family of scorpionflies known only from Mesozoic fossils. The family belongs to Mecoptera and is recorded from the Middle Jurassic to the early Late Cretaceous. Its members are recognized by a combination of long, siphonate mouthparts and distinctive wing venation. Fossils preserve a group of insects that can help reconstruct pollination interactions before flowering plants became dominant.
Apterobittacus
Apterobittacus is a genus of hangingflies in the family Bittacidae, established by MacLachlan in 1893. The genus contains a single described species, A. apterus. Hangingflies (Bittacidae) are predatory insects characterized by their habit of hanging from vegetation using their forelegs while capturing prey with their mid- and hind legs. The genus name "Apterobittacus" references the reduced or absent wings ("apterus" = wingless) that distinguishes this group from other bittacids.
Apterobittacus apterus
Apterobittacus apterus is a wingless species of hangingfly (family Bittacidae) in the order Mecoptera. First described by MacLachlan in 1871, it is the type species of the genus Apterobittacus. Unlike most bittacids, which possess two pairs of wings and are capable of flight, A. apterus is completely apterous (wingless). This species is endemic to North America and represents an unusual evolutionary trajectory within the Mecoptera, where wing reduction is rare. The genus name directly references this wingless condition.
Apteropanorpidae
Apteropanorpidae is a family of wingless scorpionflies in the order Mecoptera. The family contains one genus, Apteropanorpa, and four named species. All four species are endemic to the Australian island of Tasmania. Available accounts describe adults as scavengers that feed on dead and occasionally dying invertebrates.
Bittacidae
Hangingflies, Hanging scorpionflies
Bittacidae is a family of scorpionflies commonly known as hangingflies or hanging scorpionflies. Adults are characterized by their distinctive hanging posture, grasping vegetation with their forelegs while using their raptorial hindlegs to capture prey. The family exhibits notable sexual behavior including nuptial prey gift exchange, where males present captured prey to females during courtship. Bittacidae has a cosmopolitan distribution with significant diversity in Australia, where the genus Harpobittacus represents the largest radiation. The family has been subject to extensive taxonomic study, particularly in the Afrotropics where Dr. Jason Londt described more species than any other author.
Bittacus
hangingfly, hanging fly
Bittacus is a genus of hangingflies (Mecoptera: Bittacidae) characterized by their distinctive habit of hanging from vegetation using their modified forelegs. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution and has existed since at least the Late Cretaceous. Bittacus is currently considered grossly paraphyletic, serving as a catch-all taxon for many distantly related hangingfly species. Members are predatory insects with specialized raptorial mid- and hindlegs used for capturing arthropod prey.
Bittacus punctiger
Brown Spotted Hanging-fly
Bittacus punctiger is a species of hangingfly in the family Bittacidae, commonly known as the Brown Spotted Hanging-fly. It is found in North America. Hangingflies are predatory insects that capture prey with their raptorial hind legs while suspended from vegetation by their forelegs. The specific epithet 'punctiger' refers to spotted or punctate markings.
Bittacus stigmaterus
Say's Hanging-fly
Bittacus stigmaterus is a North American hangingfly in the family Bittacidae, commonly known as Say's Hanging-fly. The species exhibits elaborate courtship behavior in which males capture arthropod prey and present them to females as nuptial gifts. Females exercise mate choice based on prey size, with larger gifts increasing male mating success. Males also engage in kleptoparasitism, stealing prey gifts from rival males.
Bittacus texanus
Texas hangingfly
Bittacus texanus is a species of hangingfly in the family Bittacidae, described by Banks in 1908. Like other members of its family, this insect is characterized by its distinctive hanging posture, grasping the substrate with its front legs while the remaining four legs dangle freely. The species is found in North America, with records from both the United States and Mexico. Hangingflies are predatory insects related to scorpionflies, representing an ancient lineage of holometabolous insects.
Boreidae
snow scorpionflies, snow fleas
Boreidae, commonly known as snow scorpionflies or snow fleas, are a small family of approximately 30 species of scorpionflies in the order Mecoptera. These tiny, wingless insects are notable for their unusual winter activity period, emerging on snow surfaces during cold months when most other insects are dormant. Recent molecular research indicates Boreidae are more closely related to fleas (Siphonaptera) than to other scorpionflies, a finding that has significant implications for understanding the evolutionary relationships within Mecoptera. The family has a boreal and high-altitude distribution in the Northern Hemisphere, with species documented across North America, Europe, and Asia.
Boreus brumalis
mid-winter boreus, snow scorpionfly
Boreus brumalis, commonly known as the mid-winter boreus or snow scorpionfly, is a small, wingless insect in the family Boreidae. Despite its common name, it is neither a scorpion nor a fly, but belongs to the order Mecoptera. Adults are active during winter months and can be observed running across snow and ice. This species is found in North America, including the northeastern United States. Males possess distinctive upward-curving genitalia that resemble a scorpion's stinger, though the insect cannot sting. Snow scorpionflies are believed to be ancient relatives of fleas.
Boreus coloradensis
snow scorpionfly
Boreus coloradensis is a species of snow scorpionfly in the family Boreidae, described by Byers in 1955. Despite their common name, these insects are neither scorpions nor true flies. Adults are active during winter months and have been observed on snow, ice, and moss. They belong to one of the smallest insect orders, Mecoptera, and are believed to be ancient relatives of fleas.
Boreus elegans
snow scorpionfly
Boreus elegans is a species of snow scorpionfly in the family Boreidae, described by Carpenter in 1935. Like other members of its genus, it is adapted to cold environments and is active during winter months when most other insects are dormant. The species is found in North America. Snow scorpionflies are characterized by their reduced wings and distinctive jumping ability.
Boreus nivoriundus
snow-born boreus, snow scorpionfly
Boreus nivoriundus is a wingless snow scorpionfly in the family Boreidae, active during winter months in boreal and temperate regions of North America. Adults are typically 5 mm or less in length and feed on mosses and liverworts. Males possess prominent upward-curving genitalia that resemble a scorpion's stinger, giving the group its common name. The species exhibits a distinctive mating behavior where males carry females on their backs in a 'nuptial ride.' Despite their common name, snow scorpionflies are neither scorpions nor true flies, but belong to the order Mecoptera, believed to be ancestral relatives of fleas.
Boreus nix
snow scorpionfly
Boreus nix is a species of snow scorpionfly in the family Boreidae, first described by Carpenter in 1935. It belongs to an unusual group of insects adapted to cold environments, with adults active during winter months when most other insects are dormant. The species is documented from North America, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain limited in published literature.
Boreus reductus
Snow scorpionfly
Boreus reductus is a wingless species of snow scorpionfly in the family Boreidae, order Mecoptera. Adults are active during winter months and can be observed hopping across snow and ice. Unlike many Mecoptera, this species lacks functional wings entirely. Adults and larvae feed on mosses and liverworts. Males possess enlarged, upward-curving genitalia that resemble a scorpion's stinger, giving the group its common name. The species engages in a distinctive mating behavior where males carry females on their backs.
Brachypanorpa carolinensis
short-nosed scorpionfly
Brachypanorpa carolinensis, commonly known as the short-nosed scorpionfly, is a species of scorpionfly in the family Panorpodidae. The species is endemic to eastern North America. It is one of several species in the genus Brachypanorpa, which are characterized by their reduced wing venation and short rostrum compared to other scorpionflies.
Brachypanorpa sacajawea
Brachypanorpa sacajawea is a species of short-faced scorpionfly in the family Panorpodidae, described by George Byers in 1990. It belongs to a genus characterized by reduced wing venation and abbreviated rostrums compared to other mecopterans. The species is known from a small number of observations in western North America. Like other Panorpodidae, adults are likely non-feeding or feed sparingly, with larvae presumed to be detritivores in soil or leaf litter.
Caurinus
snow scorpionflies
Caurinus is a genus of snow scorpionflies in the family Boreidae, containing two described species: Caurinus dectes from Washington and Oregon, and Caurinus tlagu from Alaska. These tiny, flea-like insects are among the most unusual members of Mecoptera, with a fossil lineage dating back over 145 million years to the Jurassic. They are non-parasitic and feed on leafy liverworts in coastal forest habitats.
Choristidae
Choristidae is a small Australian family of scorpionflies in the order Mecoptera. The Australian Faunal Directory describes it as endemic to Australia and restricted to the south-eastern mainland. Adults are medium-sized insects with open wing venation, while the family checklist records several Australian genera and species. Available family-level sources provide useful structural and geographic information, but do not support assigning one feeding pattern or breeding schedule to every choristid.
Choristopsychidae
Choristopsychidae is an extinct family of scorpionflies (Mecoptera) known from Jurassic fossils in Asia. Martynov established the family in 1937 from an isolated forewing; later discoveries in northeastern China preserved wings together with parts of the body. The family is notable among mecopterans for unusually broad forewings, and some fossils show symmetrical spots on the wings. Because the evidence is fossil evidence, many aspects of its biology remain unknown.
Cimbrophlebiidae
hangingfly
Cimbrophlebiidae is an extinct family of scorpionflies known from fossils. The family is placed in the order Mecoptera and is reported from the Early Jurassic or Toarcian through the Eocene. Its record includes fossils from Asia, Europe, and North America. The family is useful for studying the former distribution and diversity of scorpionflies because its fossils span a long interval and several ancient landmasses.
Eomeropidae
Eomeropidae is a family of flattened scorpionflies in the order Mecoptera. Only one living species is currently reported: Notiothauma reedi, from southern Chile, while several other genera are known only from fossils. The family therefore combines a restricted modern lineage with a record extending back to the Early Jurassic. Information about the living member is often used to interpret the family's unusual form and ecology, but species-level observations should not automatically be applied to every fossil genus.
Hesperoboreus
Hesperoboreus is a genus of snow scorpionflies (Mecoptera: Boreidae) established by Norman Penny in 1977. Members of this genus are small, wingless insects adapted to cold environments. The genus is distinguished from the related Boreus by morphological features of the male genitalia. Very few observations exist, with only three records documented on iNaturalist as of the knowledge cutoff.
Holcorpidae
Holcorpidae is an extinct family of scorpionflies in the insect order Mecoptera. The family was established by Willmann in 1989 and has a fossil record extending from the Middle Jurassic to the Eocene. Fossils assigned to the family are known from China and North America. Reported family-level distinctions include unusually long male genitalia and particular features of wing venation.
Merope
earwigfly, forcepfly
Merope is a genus of scorpionflies (Mecoptera) in the family Meropeidae, commonly known as earwigflies or forcepflies. The genus contains Merope tuber, the only living member of Meropeidae in North America. Males possess large segmented forceps-like cerci that resemble the pincers of earwigs. The family is exceptionally rare, with only three extant species described worldwide, and the immature stages remain unknown to science.
Merope tuber
forcepfly, earwigfly
Merope tuber is the sole species in the genus Merope and the only living member of the family Meropeidae in North America. The species occurs in eastern North America from Ontario to Georgia and west to Kansas, with recent records from Florida. Adults are nocturnal and secretive, rarely encountered due to their ground-dwelling habits. The species is notable for the large genital forceps present on male abdomens, which resemble the cerci of earwigs. Immature stages remain unknown, and much of the species' biology is poorly understood.
Mesopsychidae
Mesopsychidae is an extinct family of scorpionflies known from fossils. It belongs to Mecoptera and was named by Tillyard in 1917. Published summaries place it from the Late Permian to the mid-Cretaceous, spanning major changes in terrestrial ecosystems. The family is important for studying fossil insect diversity and possible interactions between long-proboscid insects and extinct seed plants.
Nannochoristidae
Nannochoristidae is a small family of scorpionflies in the order Mecoptera. The living family is represented by the genus Nannochorista and is recorded from New Zealand, Australia, Tasmania, Argentina, and Chile. It is unusual among scorpionflies because its larvae live in water and hunt on shallow-stream beds. Fossil members show that the family once had a broader distribution, including parts of the Northern Hemisphere.
Notiothauma
Notiothauma is a genus of scorpionflies in the family Eomeropidae, represented today by the single species Notiothauma reedi. That species is native to central Chile's Valdivian temperate rain forests, especially forests with Nothofagus trees. Adults are flattened, cockroach-like insects found on the forest floor and are active at night. The genus is notable as the only living genus of its family, with immature larvae still unknown.
Panorpa
scorpionflies, common scorpionflies
Panorpa is the largest and most widespread genus of scorpionflies (family Panorpidae), comprising approximately 260 described species as of 2018. These insects are characterized by the male's enlarged, scorpion-like genital claspers that curl upward at the abdomen tip. The genus is primarily distributed in the Northern Hemisphere, with notable absence from western North America. Both larvae and adults are scavengers that feed on dead or dying arthropods, playing important roles in nutrient cycling and forensic entomology. Several species, particularly P. vulgaris and P. nuptialis, have become model organisms for studying sexual selection and nuptial gift behavior.
Panorpa acuta
Sharp Scorpionfly, Common Scorpionfly
Panorpa acuta is a species of scorpionfly in the family Panorpidae, found in North America. It is one of the common scorpionflies in the region. The species exhibits the characteristic features of the genus Panorpa, including an elongated rostrum and, in males, enlarged genital claspers that resemble a scorpion's stinger. Like other scorpionflies, it undergoes complete metamorphosis with larvae living in soil and leaf litter.
Panorpa americana
common scorpionfly
Panorpa americana is a species of scorpionfly in the family Panorpidae, commonly known as the common scorpionfly. It is distributed across North America. The species belongs to an order characterized by elongated rostrums and, in males, genital claspers that curve upward resembling a scorpion's stinger. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with moist woodland habitats, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented in available sources.
Panorpa anomala
common scorpionfly
Panorpa anomala is a species of scorpionfly in the family Panorpidae, first described by Carpenter in 1931. It occurs in North America, where it inhabits moist wooded environments. As a member of the genus Panorpa, it shares the characteristic elongated rostrum and upturned male genitalia that give scorpionflies their common name.
Panorpa banksi
Banks's Scorpionfly
Panorpa banksi is a small scorpionfly species in the family Panorpidae, native to North America. It is notable for being the smallest of three sympatric Panorpa species studied in Michigan, with lower fecundity than its congeners. The species exhibits temporal partitioning, peaking in abundance in early July, earlier than competing species. It occupies drier microhabitats along moisture gradients and feeds primarily on small dead arthropods such as crickets and caterpillars rather than large prey items.
Panorpa banksiana
common scorpionfly
Panorpa banksiana is a species of scorpionfly in the family Panorpidae, described by Penny & Byers in 1979. Like other members of the genus Panorpa, males possess enlarged, scorpion-like claspers at the tip of the abdomen. The species is found in North America, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain limited in the available literature.
Panorpa carolinensis
Carolina scorpionfly
Panorpa carolinensis is a species of scorpionfly in the family Panorpidae, native to North America. Like other scorpionflies, it possesses the characteristic elongated rostrum and, in males, a genital capsule that curves upward resembling a scorpion's stinger. The species was described by Nathan Banks in 1905. Information regarding its specific biology, habitat preferences, and distribution within North America remains limited in published literature.
Panorpa choctaw
common scorpionfly
Panorpa choctaw is a species of scorpionfly in the family Panorpidae, described by George Byers in 1993. It belongs to the order Mecoptera, a group of insects commonly known as scorpionflies due to the enlarged, upward-curved claspers of males that resemble a scorpion's stinger. The species is found in North America.
Panorpa claripennis
common scorpionfly
Panorpa claripennis is a species of scorpionfly in the family Panorpidae, commonly known as the common scorpionfly. It is native to North America and has been recorded from the northeastern United States, including Vermont. Like other scorpionflies, males possess enlarged, curved claspers that resemble a scorpion's tail, giving the group its common name. The species undergoes complete metamorphosis with larvae developing in soil and leaf litter.
Panorpa consuetudinis
common scorpionfly
Panorpa consuetudinis is a species of common scorpionfly in the family Panorpidae, first described by Snodgrass in 1927. Like other scorpionflies, it belongs to the order Mecoptera, a small group of insects characterized by elongated faces and, in males, genital claspers that curve upward like a scorpion's stinger. The species is found in North America, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Panorpa debilis
common scorpionfly
Panorpa debilis is a species of scorpionfly in the family Panorpidae, found in North America. The species has been documented exhibiting a novel wing-flashing behavior that appears to function primarily for intraspecific competition rather than mate attraction. Both sexes engage in wing-flashing, with females directing most signals toward other females. The behavior is also directed at potentially competitive arthropods such as harvestmen (Leiobunum spp.). This species has been suggested as a useful model for studying animal communication and signaling.
Panorpa dubitans
Panorpa dubitans is a species of common scorpionfly in the family Panorpidae, order Mecoptera. It was described by Carpenter in 1931 and is found in North America. Like other members of the genus Panorpa, it belongs to a group of insects commonly known as scorpionflies due to the enlarged, upturned claspers of males that resemble a scorpion's tail. The species is one of approximately six Panorpa species recorded from Missouri and surrounding regions.
Panorpa ensigera
common scorpionfly
Panorpa ensigera is a species of scorpionfly in the family Panorpidae, described by Bicha in 1983. It is found in North America and belongs to the order Mecoptera, a group of insects commonly known as scorpionflies due to the enlarged, upward-curved claspers of males that resemble a scorpion's stinger. Like other members of its family, this species likely inhabits moist woodland environments.
Panorpa ferruginea
Panorpa ferruginea is a scorpionfly species in the family Panorpidae, described by George Byers in 1993. Scorpionflies in this genus are characterized by their distinctive elongated rostrum and, in males, a genital capsule that curves upward resembling a scorpion's stinger. The specific epithet "ferruginea" refers to a rusty or reddish-brown coloration. Like other Panorpa species, it is likely associated with moist woodland habitats where adults feed on opportunistic food sources.
Panorpa flexa
common scorpionfly
Panorpa flexa is a species of scorpionfly in the family Panorpidae, described by Carpenter in 1935. It is found in North America. Scorpionflies in this genus are characterized by the male's enlarged, scorpion-like claspers formed by the external genitalia, and their elongated 'long face' with chewing mandibles at the tip. The larvae develop in soil and leaf litter, scavenging on dead or dying soft-bodied insects.
Panorpa floridana
Florida scorpionfly
Panorpa floridana, the Florida scorpionfly, is a rare endemic species in the family Panorpidae known only from two counties in northern Florida. Described as "cryptic" yet distinctive in appearance, it remained unrecorded for 28 years until its rediscovery in 2010 from a photograph taken at Gold Head Branch State Park in Clay County. The species is considered one of the most geographically restricted scorpionflies in North America.
Panorpa galerita
Hooded Scorpionfly, Common Scorpionfly
Panorpa galerita is a species of scorpionfly in the family Panorpidae, described by George Byers in 1962. It is found in North America, with records from the northeastern United States including Vermont. As a member of the genus Panorpa, it shares the characteristic elongated rostrum and, in males, enlarged genital claspers that give scorpionflies their common name. The species is part of the diverse Mecoptera order, which includes approximately 600 species worldwide.
Panorpa helena
Helena's Scorpionfly, common scorpionfly
Panorpa helena is a species of scorpionfly in the family Panorpidae, described by George Byers in 1962. It is one of the most common and widespread scorpionfly species in eastern North America. The species is distinguished by three complete dark bands across its yellow wings and, in males, the presence of an anal horn on the sixth abdominal tergum. Adults are typically encountered in dense, moist forest habitats where they flit nervously through foliage.
Panorpa hispida
A scorpionfly species in the family Panorpidae, described by George Byers in 1993. Like other members of the genus Panorpa, males possess a distinctive genital bulb at the tip of the abdomen that resembles a scorpion's stinger. The specific epithet 'hispida' refers to hairy or bristly characteristics, though precise diagnostic features distinguishing it from congeners are not well documented in available sources.
Panorpa hungerfordi
common scorpionfly
Panorpa hungerfordi is a species of scorpionfly in the family Panorpidae, described by George Byers in 1973. Like other scorpionflies, it is characterized by the male's enlarged, upward-curved genital claspers that resemble a scorpion's stinger. The species is found in North America and shares the general habits of the genus: adults frequent moist woodland habitats where they scavenge on dead or dying insects. Larvae develop in soil and leaf litter, feeding on soft-bodied invertebrates.