Panorpodidae

Wikipedia

Panorpodidae
Temporal range: Eocene–Recent
Brachypanorpa montana
Panorpodes komaensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Mecoptera
Superfamily: Panorpoidea
Family: Panorpodidae
Handlirsch 1920
Genera

Brachypanorpa
Panorpodes

The Panorpodidae are a small family of scorpionflies. Of the two genera, Brachypanorpa occurs only in the United States, and Panorpodes occurs in East Asia, with a single species in California.[1] Unlike their sister group Panorpidae, the family generally has short jaws, amongst the shortest of all mecopterans. Brachypanorpa is thought to be phytophagous, consuming the epidermis of soft leaves, and a similar diet is suggested for Panorpodes.[2]

Genera

The family contains extant 13 species in two genera:[1]

In addition, the following fossil genus is also known:

Characteristics

Panorpode larvae differ significantly from those of other scorpionflies in that they have smooth, glabrous mandibles without molar grinding surfaces or filtering spines, indicating that they do not feed on solid carrion like adjacent families (Panorpidae and Bittacidae).  Instead, their shape indicates an adaptability to absorb degraded organic material or plant juices from soil or leaf litter.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 "Panorpodidae". World Checklist of extant Mecoptera species. Archived from the original on April 8, 2005. Retrieved April 3, 2010.
  2. Ma, Na; Huang, Jing; Hua, Baozhen (2013-03-22). Hejnol, Andreas (ed.). "Functional Morphology and Sexual Dimorphism of Mouthparts of the Short-Faced Scorpionfly Panorpodes kuandianensis (Mecoptera: Panorpodidae)". PLOS ONE. 8 (3) e60351. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0060351. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 3606246. PMID 23533677.
  3. Jiang, Lu; Hua, Bao-Zhen (2015-12-01). "Functional morphology of the larval mouthparts of Panorpodidae compared with Bittacidae and Panorpidae (Insecta: Mecoptera)". Organisms Diversity & Evolution. 15 (4): 671–679. doi:10.1007/s13127-015-0225-7. ISSN 1618-1077.