Biodiversity of mecoptera in Mexico

Abstract

Mecoptera are small holometabolous insects with elongate and slender bodies, superficially resembling primitive true flies. They posses a characteristic head and mouthparts structure pronounced to form a rostrum. They are commonly called scorpionflies, because in Panorpidae males the terminal part of the abdomen bears genital structures resembling a hook or scorpion sting. Their active season is brief through the year. Although distributed worldwide, especially in humid temperate and subtropical climates, they are only moderately to scarcely represented in scientific collections. The order comprises about 600 species in 9 families worldwide. In Mexico, 47 species have been recorded. They are comprised mainly in the genera Panorpa (32 species) and Bittacus (9 species) with a widespread distribution, with the rest of species in Kalobittacus, Eremobittacus and Hylobittacus. A brief account of their life cycle and distribution in Mexico are included.