Mecoptera (from the Greek: meco- = "long", ptera- = "wings") are an order of insects with about 600 species worldwide. Mecoptera are sometimes called scorpionflies after their largest non-flea family, Panorpidae, in which the males have enlarged genitals that look similar to the stinger of a scorpion. The Bittacidae, or hangingflies, are a prominent family of elongate insects known for their elaborate mating rituals, in which females choose mates based on the quality of gift prey offered by various males.

Recent DNA evidence indicates that fleas, which are traditionally considered to be also of order level as the order Siphonaptera, are instead highly specialized Mecoptera. There is some morphological evidence for the grouping of Siphonaptera and Mecoptera Boreidae. Two synapomorphies are the production of resilin, a very flexible and springy type of cuticle, and a reversion to panoistic ovarioles. Grouped together with the fleas, Mecoptera would have about 3000 species.

Image:Panorpa communis with prey I.jpg|Panorpa communis female with prey Image:Panorpa communis V.jpg|Panorpa communis male Image:Detail of Panorpa communis.jpg|Detail of head

References

• ^*

External links

• Mecoptera at the Tree of Life
• Mecoptera image gallery at myrmecos.net

Insects | Mecoptera

Schnabelfliegen | Mecoptera | Skorpionfluer | Wojsiłki | 長翅目