Snow scorpionflies (Boreidae) are a very small family of Scorpionflies, containing only around 30 species, all of which are boreal or high-altitude species in the Northern Hemisphere. Recent research indicates that the boreids are the group from which the fleas evolved, which renders the order Mecoptera paraphyletic.

These insects are small (typically 6mm or less), with the wings reduced to bristles or absent, and they are somewhat compressed, so there is in fact some resemblance to fleas. They are most commonly active during the winter months, towards the transition into spring, and the larvae typically feed on mosses. The adults will often disperse between breeding areas by walking across the open snow, thus the common name. The males use their bristle-like wings to help grasp the female while mating.

Genera

• Boreus Latreille, 1816
• Caurinus Russell, 1979
• Hesperoboreus Penny, 1977

References

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Mecoptera