Panorpa bashanicola: A new species of Scorpionfly from the Bashan Mountains in central China.

The Scorpionflies (Mecoptera) are a group of insects related to the True Flies. They get their name from the reproductive organs of the males of some species, which resemble the tails of Scorpions. Despite this fierce appearance most species are harmless herbivores, though it is thought that fleas are highly specialised members of the group, and the True Flies, Butterflies and Moths may have evolved from the group in the Mesozoic. The group has a fossil record dating back to the Permian, and it has been suggested that the Scorpionflies were the first Insects to pollinate plants, possibly pollinating gymnospermous plants in the Jurassic before the origin of true flowering plants.

In a paper published in the journal ZooKeys on 30 July 2018, Yuan Hua and Shi-Heng Tao of the College of Life Sciences at Northwest A&F University, and Bao-Zhen Hua of the Key Laboratory of
Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management, and Entomological Museum at Northwest A&F University, describe a new species of Scorpionfly from the Bashan Mountains in central China.

The new species is placed in the genus Panorpa, and given the specific name bashanicola, in reference to the area where it was found. The species has a distinctive wing patterning, with two pale longitudinal stripes and four pale rounded spots on its forewings, and a head and body is brown in colour, with grey eyes. The species was found in Shaanxi and Hubei provinces.

Panorpa bashanicola, male in dorsal view (top left), female in dorsal view (top right) and male abdomen in dorsal view (bottom).

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Possible Wasp-mimcry in a Mexican Hangingfly.

Hangingflies, Bittacidae, are highly specialized Scorpionflies, Mecoptera, noted for their resemblance to Crane Flies (which are True Flies, Diptera, and only have a single pair of wings) and their tendency to hang upside down in wait for prey. Like other Scorpionflies they are a rellict group today, with only about 170 species known worldwide (and most of those extremely rare), but were an important part of Insect faunas in the Jurassic, before Angiosperms (Flowering Plants) and associated Insects came to dominate terrestrial ecosystems.

The genus Eremobittacus is known from two species, Eremobittacus spinulatus and Eremobittacus sodalium, both of which are known from single male specimens from Mexico. To date attempts to find further specimens of either species, particularly females and juveniles, have proved futile, despite some extensive searches in the areas from which they were first described.

In a paper published in the journal ZooKeys on 23 November 2015, Fernando Villagomez of the Laboratorio de Ecología y Sistemática de Microartrópodos at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Atilano Contreras-Ramos of the Departamento de Zoología at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and Yesenia Marquez-López of the Maestría en Biología at the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa describe a series of specimens of Eremobittacus spinulatus discovered in the collection of the National Collection of Insects of the Institute of Biology of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. 

The series comprises six specimens, three male and three female, that were collected in Oaxaca State in 1998, close to the area where the species was discovered in 1997 and in an area where further specimens were being actively sought, though they were apparently not recognized at the time (this is not as surprising as it sounds; Hangingflies are rare insects that most entomologists are unlikely to be familiar with, and the original description of Eremobittacus spinulatus was published in an American journal in English, before it was possible to search journals quickly online).

Eremobittacus spinulatus (1) male and (2) female. Villagomez et al. (2015).

The specimens show marked sexual dimorphism, with enlarged upper hind legs on the males, which is very unusual in Hangingflies. In addition the species is extremely Wasp-like in appearance, which could possibly be an indicator of mimicry in the species. Although predatory themselves, Hangingflies are subject to predation by a variety of other animals, including Spiders, Damselflies, Robber Flies and Assassin Bugs, against which they have few defenses. This would make resembling a Wasp highly advantageous, as Wasps have powerful stings, strong mandibles and are generally aggressive, so that many predators tend to avoid them. However in order for such mimicry to be effective it would be necessary for the Hangingfly to exhibit Wasp-like behavior, such as actively foraging for prey, rather than hanging upside down in wait. Such behavior is known in some Hangingflies, so it is a possibility for Eremobittacus spinulatus, though observation of living specimens would be needed before this could be confirmed.

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Four new species of Hangingflies from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia.       Hangingflies, Bittacidae, are large members of the Scorpionfly order, Mecoptera, which resemble the more widespread Craneflies (members of the True Fly order, Diptera) both in morphology and lifestyle, although...

A Hangingfly from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota.

Hangingflies are long legged Scorpionflies (Mecoptera), a group of insects related to the True Flies. Scorpionflies get their name from the reproductive organs of the males of some species, which resemble the tails of Scorpions. Despite this fierce appearance most species are harmless herbivores, though it is thought that fleas are highly...

 A new species of Earwigfly from Brazil.

Earwigflies (Meropeidae) are a small group within the Mecoptera (Scorpionflies), known only from four fossil and two modern species. Three of the fossil species are from the Triassic of Kyrgyzstan, and the fourth from the Jurassic of Siberia, while the two modern species, Merope tuber and Austromerope poultoni are from North America and Australia respectively. Little is known of the biology of these Insects, the larvae having never...

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Four new species of Hangingflies from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia.

Hangingflies, Bittacidae, are large members of the Scorpionfly order, Mecoptera, which resemble the more widespread Craneflies (members of the True Fly order, Diptera) both in morphology and lifestyle, although the two groups are easily separated, as Hangingflies have two pairs of wings and Craneflies only one. Hangingflies uncommon today, with about 270 species known worldwide, but are thought to have been far more abundant and diverse in the Jurassic, before Flowering Plants and associated Insects came to dominate terrestrial ecosystems.

In a paper published in the journal ZooKeys on 19 December 2014, Sulin Liu, Chungkun Shih and Dong Ren of the College of Life Sciences at Capital Normal University describe four new species of Hangingflies from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Inner Mongolia. The Jiulongshan Formation comprises a series of grey tuffaceous sandstones and sandy mudstones which has produced a large number of extremely detailed fossils of a wide variety of insects, including Moths, Hangingflies, Wasps, True Flies, Lacewings and many extinct groups.

The first new species described is placed in the genus Mongolbittacus, which to date has been known only from a single species from the Jiulongshan Formation, and given the specific name speciosus meaning ‘showy’. This species is described from a single male specimen, preserved in lateral view as part and counterpart from within a split block. This specimen is 8.8 mm in length and preserved with all four wings held open and separated from one-another.

Mongolbittacus speciosus, photo of part. Scale bar is 3 mm. Liu et al. (2014).

The second new species is also placed in the genus Mongolbittacus, and is given the specific name oligophlebius, meaning ‘few veins’ in reference to the low number of crossveins on the the wings. This species is described from two specimens, both preserved as part and counterpart from split blocks. The first is only partially exposed, with only one forewing and the forepart of the body visible, the second is preserved with the limbs folded over the body.

Mongolbittacus oligophlebius, first specimen, photo of part. Scale bar is 3 mm. Liu et al. (2014).

The third specimen is placed in the genus Exilibittacus, which is also known to date from a single species from the Jiulongshan Formation, and given the specific name foliaceus, meaning ‘leafshaped’, in reference to the shape of the wings. This species is described from a single female specimen, 12.9 mm in length, preserved in dorsal view on a split block.

Exilibittacus foliaceus, female specimen in dorsal view. Scale bar is 3 mm. Liu et al. (2014).

The final new species is also placed in the genus Exilibittacus, and is given the specific name plagioneurus, meaning ‘oblique veined’, in reference to the oblique crossveins on its wings. The species is described from a single female specimen, preserved in dorsal view as part and counterpart from a split block.

Exilibittacus plagioneurus, dorsal view of part. Scale bar is 3 mm. Liu et al. (2014).

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A Hangingfly from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota.

Hangingflies are long-legged Scorpionflies (Mecoptera), a group of insects related to the True Flies. Scorpionflies get their name from the reproductive organs of the males of some species, which resemble the tails of Scorpions. Despite this fierce appearance most species are harmless herbivores, though it is thought that fleas are highly...

A new species of Earwigfly from Brazil.

Earwigflies (Meropeidae) are a small group within the Mecoptera (Scorpionflies), known only from four fossil and two modern species. Three of the fossil species are from the Triassic of Kyrgyzstan, and the fourth from the Jurassic of Siberia, while the two modern species, Merope tuber and Austromerope poultoni are from North America and Australia respectively. Little is known of the biology of these Insects, the larvae having never...

Leaf mimicry in a Jurassic Scorpionfly.

The Scorpionflies (Mecoptera) are a group of insects related to the True Flies. They get their name from the reproductive organs of the males of some species, which resemble the tails of Scorpions. Despite this fierce appearance most species are harmless...

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A Hangingfly from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota.

Hangingflies are long-legged Scorpionflies (Mecoptera), a group of insects related to the True Flies. Scorpionflies get their name from the reproductive organs of the males of some species, which resemble the tails of Scorpions. Despite this fierce appearance most species are harmless herbivores, though it is thought that fleas are highly specialised members of the group, and the True Flies, Butterflies and Moths may have evolved from the group in the Mesozoic. The group has a fossil record dating back to the Permian, and it has been suggested that the Scorpionflies were the first Insects to pollinate plants, possibly pollinating gymnospermous plants in the Jurassic before the origin of true flowering plants.

In a paper published in the journal Acta Geologica Sinica in February 2014, Wang Chen, Shih Chungkun and Ren Dong of the Key Laboratory of Insect Evolution and Environmental Changes at the College of Life Sciences at Capital Normal University describe a new species of Hangingfly from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation of Liutiaogou in Inner Mongolia, part of the Jehol Biota.

The new species is considered to be a member of the Cimbrophlebiidae, an extinct family of Hangingflies known from the Middle Jurassic to the the Early Eocene, but not previously described from the Jehol Biota. It is placed in the genus Cimbrophlebia and given the specific name rara, meaning rare. It is described from a single specimen preserved as part and counterpart within a split block.

Cimbrophlebia rara, part (a) and counterpart (b). Wang et al. (2014).

See also...

 A new species of Earwigfly from Brazil.

 Leaf mimicry in a Jurassic Scorpionfly.

 Three new species of Scorpionfly from the early Eocene of British Columbia and Washington State.

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A new species of Earwigfly from Brazil.

Earwigflies (Meropeidae) are a small group within the Mecoptera (Scorpionflies), known only from four fossil and two modern species. Three of the fossil species are from the Triassic of Kyrgyzstan, and the fourth from the Jurassic of Siberia, while the two modern species, Merope tuber and Austromerope poultoni are from North America and Australia respectively. Little is known of the biology of these Insects, the larvae having never been observed. It is thought that they may have been more diverse in the Mesozoic, and that the modern populations are a relict.

In a paper published in the journal ZooKeys on 15 February 2013, Renato Machado of the Department of Entomology at Texas A & M University, Ricardo Kawada of the Laboratório de Entomologia Sistemática at the Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo and José Rafael of the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazonia, describe a new species of extant Earwigfly from Espírito Santo State in Brazil.

The new species is placed in the genus Austromerope, and given the specific name brasiliensis, meaning 'from Brazil'. Austromerope brasiliensis is described from a single 20 mm male specimen caught in a Malaise trap (tent like net structure used by entomologists to trap flying insects) at Domingos Martins in Espírito Santo State Brazil.

Austromerope brasiliensis, male specimen from. Domingos Martins in Espírito Santo State Brazil. Machado et al. (2013).

Austromerope brasiliensis is more similar to the Australian species Austromerope poultoni than the North American Merope tuber. As well as being the first member of the Meropeidae recorded in South America, Austromerope brasiliensis is the fourth Scorpionfly known from South America belonging to a family also known from Australia, other than the Bittacidae (Hangingflies), which are global in distribution. The other three species are all members of the genus Nannochorista, which is also known from Australia. The genus Nannochorista, along with a second genus, Microchorista, which comprises one species from New Zealand, comprise the family Nannochoristidae. All other Australian families of the Mecoptera are endemic (found only in Australia), whereas North American families of Scorpionflies tend to be found in Earasia as wel. One family, the Eomeropidae, comprises only a single species from South America. This implies that the Meropeidae had arisen before the breakup of the supercontint of Pangea in the Jurassic, with the lineages that gave rise to the modern genera Merope and Austromerope being trapped on Laurasia and Gondwana respectivel, while.most other famlies of the Meropidae apparently arose later.

See also Leaf mimicry in a Jurassic Scorpionfly, Three new species of Scorpionfly from the early Eocene of British Columbia and Washington State and A new species of Scorpionfly from Baltic Amber.

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Leaf mimicry in a Jurassic Scorpionfly.

The Scorpionflies (Mecoptera) are a group of insects related to the True Flies. They get their name from the reproductive organs of the males of some species, which resemble the tails of Scorpions. Despite this fierce appearance most species are harmless herbivores, though it is thought that fleas are highly specialised members of the group, and the True Flies, Butterflies and Moths may have evolved from the group in the Mesozoic. The group has a fossil record dating back to the Permian, and it has been suggested that the Scorpionflies were the first Insects to pollinate plants, possibly pollinating gymnospermous plants in the Jurassic before the origin of true flowering plants.

In a paper published in the Proceedings  of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America on 26 November 2012, a team of scientists led by Yongjie Wang of the College of Life Sciences at Capital Normal University in Beijing describe a new species of Scorpionfly from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation from Daohugou Village in Inner Mongolia, which they suggest may have been camouflaged to resemble the leaves of a Ginkgoalean Plant uppon which the Insect lived.

The new species is named Juracimbrophlebia ginkgofolia, where 'Juracimbrophlebia' means 'Jurassic Cimbrophlebia' (a modern genus of Scorpionfly to which Juracimbrophlebia is thought to be related) and 'ginkgofolia' means 'Ginko-leaf'. Juracimbrophlebia ginkgofolia is a ~38.5 mm Hangingfly (long-legged Scorpionfly superficially resembling a Cranefly).

Specimens of Juracimbrophlebia ginkgofolia from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Inner Mongolia. Scale bars are 10 mm. Wang et al. (2012).

The specimens were found alongside preserved leaves of the Ginkgo Yimaia capituliformis, with the Insect and Plant fossils proving confusing to separate, both in the field and the lab. Wang et al. suggest that this is a result of mimicry on behalf of the Scorpionfly, which would have been camouflaged among the leaves of the Ginkgo in life.

 

 

Leaves of Yimaia capituliformis  from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Inner Mongolia. Scale bars are 10 mm. Wang et al. (2012).

 Wings of Juracimbrophlebia ginkgofolia (H&I) and leaves of Yimaia capituliformis (J&K), illustrating the similarities. Scale bars are 10 mm. Wang et al. (2012).

Reconstruction of Juracimbrophlebia ginkgofolia in life. Wang et al. (2012).

See also Three new species of Scorpionfly from the early Eocene of British Columbia and Washington State, Choristopsychid Insects from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia and A new species of Scorpionfly from Baltic Amber.

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Three new species of Scorpionfly from the early Eocene of British Columbia and Washington State.

The Scorpionflies (Mecoptera) are a group of insects related to the True Flies. They get their name from the reproductive organs of the males of some species, which resemble the tails of Scorpions. Despite this fierce appearance most species are harmless herbivores, though it is thought that fleas are highly specialized members of the group, and the True Flies, Butterflies and Moths may have evolved from the group in the Mesozoic. The group has a fossil record dating back to the Permian, and it has been suggested that the Scorpionflies were the first Insects to pollenate plants, possibly pollenating gymnospermous plants in the Jurassic before the origin of true flowering plants.

In a paper published in the Journal of Paleontology in July 2013, Bruce Archibald of the Department of Biological Sciences at Simon Fraser University, the Museum of Comparative Zoology and the Royal British Columbia Museum, Rolf Mathewes, also of the Department of Biological Sciences at Simon Fraser University and David Greenwood of the Biology Deptartment at Brandon University, describe three new species of Scorpionfly from British Columbia, Canada, and Washington State, USA.

All three new species are deemed sufficiently different  to previously described species to be placed in a new genus, Eorpa, and family, Eorpidae. where 'Eorpa' means 'Dawn Scorpionfly' and Eorpidae derives from Eorpa.

The first new species is named Eorpa ypsipeda, where 'ypsipeda' means 'highlands'. The species is described from 21 fossil specimens, most of which comprise only individual wings or parts thereof, from the early Eocene Kamloops Group at McAbee in British Columbia and nine less certain specimens from the Klondike Mountain Formation at Republic in Washington State. These are 15.5-16.5 mm Scorpionflies. Their wings are dark with two lighter patches on each.

Eorpa ypsipeda nearly complete specimen from McAbee in British Columbia. Archibald et al. (2013).

The second new species is named Eorpa elverumi, in honour of John Elverum, who discovered the first specimen of this species, and who was actively involved in collecting at Republic. The species is described from two isolated forewings only (insect wings are considered highly distinctive and it os common to describe species based upon wings only, though not with other isolated parts of the anatomy), both collected at Republic in Washington State.

Eorpa elverumi from Republic in Washington State. Archibald et al. (2013).

The final new species is named Eorpa jurgeni, in honour of Jurgen Mathewes, brother of Rolf Mathewes and a dedicated collector of fossils. The species is described from a single hindwing, discovered at Quilchena in the Okanagan Highlands of British Columbia. 

Eorpa jurgeni from the Okanagan Highlands of British Columbia. Archibald et al. (2013).

Archibald et al. note that like other groups of Insects the Scorpionflies underwent a dramatic evolutionary radiation at the beginning of the Cenozoic, but that, unlike other insect groups, they have subsequently suffered a great loss in diversity, with four of six families present in the Eocene having subsequently gone extinct (four out of a total of fourteen Insect families across all known orders to have gone extinct in this time). They suggest that this might be for two reasons. Firstly Scorpionflies, unlike most insect groups, are largely restricted to the temperate zones, with only two genera known from the tropics, both of which are high altitude Insects, still living in a cooler climate. In the Eocene the climate was far less seasonal in the temperate zones, meaning that Insects living there then would not have been exposed to the wide variations of temperature that modern temperate zone insects have to endure. Secondly, Scorpionflies feed largely upon the bodies of dead insects; they do not actively hunt, but forage for insects which have died through other causes. One of the great success stories of the Cenozoic has been the rise of the Ants, which were an extremely minor part of the Cretaceous fauna but are now estimated to make up roughly a third of the planet's insect biomass, and actively dominate and manage many habitats. Ants compete with Scorpionflies for Insect carrion, and may be the reason that the Scorpionflies have never colonized the tropics, where the Ants are most successful.

See also Choristopsychid Insects from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia and A new species of Scorpionfly from Baltic Amber.

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Choristopsychid Insects from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia.

The Insect Family Choristopsychidae was erected in 1937 by the Russian Palaeoentomologist Arkadiy Martynov to describe an isolated forewing from Tajikistan with distinct venation (this is not that surprising, insect wings are extremely distinctive, and palaeoentomologists are often able to make detailed predictions about the taxonomy of specimens simply from the wings). He placed it within the order Mecoptera, which includes the modern Scorpionflies, Hangingflies and Earwigflies. It has since been suggested that the specimen should be placed within the Agetoparnopidae or Permochoristidae two other groups of fossil Mecopterans.

In a paper published in the journal ZooKeys on 29 July 2013, Xiao Qiao and Chung Kun Shih of the Key Laboratory of Insect Evolution & Environmental Change at the College of Life Sciences at  Capital Normal University in Beijing, Julian Petrulevičius of the División Paleozoología Invertebrados at the Museo de La Plata in Argentina and Ren Dong, also of the Key Laboratory of Insect Evolution & Environmental Change, describe a series of new specimens of Choristopsychid Insects from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Daohugou Village in Inner Mongolia, which show the full anatomy of the Insects, and suggest that Martynov was correct to place them in a unique family of their own.

Qiao et al. describe ten body specimens of the species described by Martynov in 1937, Choristopsyche tenuinervis. The these are eleven mm insect preserved as part and counterpart on a limestone slabs. Both sexes are present, and the males show reproductive equipment similar to that of Scorpionflies.

Photographs and line drawings of Choristopsyche tenuinervis, gender unknown. (A) Photograph of part. (B) Photograph of counterpart. (C) Line drawing of whole specimen of part. (D) Line drawing of whole specimen of counterpart. Scale bars represent 5 mm. Qiao et al. (2013).

Further specimens of Choristopsyche tenuinervis. (A & C) Gender unknown. (B, D, E & F) Females. Qiao et al. (2013).

In addition Qiao et al. describe two new species in the genus Choristopsyche.

The first of these is Choristopsyche perfecta, which derives from 'perfectus' the Latin for complete, a reference to the fact that this species is described from body fossils, not an isolated wing. The species is described from four nearly complete specimens of both sexes, averaging 20 mm in length.

Specimens of Choristopsyche perfecta. (A) Male(?), (B) line drawing of (A), (C) sex unknown, (D) female, (E) line drawing of (C) and (F) sex unknown.  Qiao et al. (2013).

The second new species of Choritopsyche is given the specific name asticta, meaning 'no spots', unlike other members of the genus this species lacks spots on its wings. This species is named from three female specimens about 20 mm in length.

Choritopsyche asticta, (A& B) part and counterpart of first specimen, (C & D) line drawings of (A & B), (E & F) second and third specimens. Qiao et al. (2013).

Finally a fourth species is placed in a second genus. This is named Paristopsyche angelineae, where 'Paristopsyche' means 'equal soul' or 'equal mind' and 'angelineae' honours Ms. Janet Angeline. The species is described from six specimens, averaging 10 mm in length.

Paristopsyche angelineae, two specimens with line drawings. Qiao et al. (2013).

See also Four new species of Mantidfly from the Mesozoic of China, A new species of Scorpionfly from Baltic Amber, New Ommatid Beetles from the Mesozoic of China, Fishflies from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia and What Jurassic Katydids did.

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A new species of Scorpionfly from Baltic Amber.

The Scorpionflies (Mecoptera) are a group of insects related to the True Flies. They get their name from the reproductive organs of the males of some species, which resemble the tails of Scorpions. Despite this fierce appearance most species are harmless herbivores, though it is thought that fleas are highly specialized members of the group, and the True Flies, Butterflies and Moths may have evolved from the group in the Mesozoic. The group has a fossil record dating back to the Permian, and it has been suggested that the Scorpionflies were the first Insects to pollenate plants, possibly pollenating gymnospermous plants in the Jurassic before the origin of true flowering plants.

In a paper published in the journal Systematic Entomology in January 2012, Wiesław Krzemiński of the Institute of Systematic and Evolution of Animals at the Polish Academy of Sciences, and Agnieszka Soszyńska-Maj of the Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology at the University of Łódź, describe a new species of Scorpionfly from Middle Eocene Baltic Amber, roughly 45 million years old.

The new species is named Baltipanorpa damzeni, meaning Damzen's Baltic Scorpionfly, after Jonas Damzen, who first discovered the specimens. The Species is described from two male specimens, both about 16 mm in length. These differ significantly from other known members of the group in the structure of their reproductive apparatus and wing venation, suggesting they are not closely related to other known species.

Specimen of Baltipanorpa damzeni preserved in amber. Krzemiński & Soszyńska-Maj (2012).

See also Two new species of Mosquito from the Eocene of Montana, Miocene Quasimodo Flies in Dominican Amber, Males of two species of Horse-fly described for the first time, Two new species of Fungus Gnat from Southeast Asia and Australasia and New Tiger Moths discovered in east Asia.

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