Apteropanorpa

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Apteropanorpa tasmanica
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Mecoptera Family: Apteropanorpidae Genus: Apteropanorpa Carpenter, 1941 Species: A. tasmanica
Binomial name
Apteropanorpa tasmanica Carpenter, 1941

Apteropanorpidae is a family of wingless scorpionflies containing the single species Apteropanorpa tasmanica. This species, also called the Tasmanian snow scorpionfly is found in moss in Tasmania and southern Australia. The adults are generalised predators. The larvae live in moss and are locally common.

A. tasmanica is probably an austral ecological counterpart of the Northern Hemisphere Boreidae, adapting to colder climates by losing its wings and feeding on the abundant understory mosses. Both groups have been collected on snow and at high elevations. However, these two groups are probably not sister groups, as males of Apteropanorpa tasmanica have developed the bulbous, recurved abdomen found in advanced families, such as Panorpidae.

[edit] Name

The genus name is derived from Panorpidae, a related family, and Ancient Greek apteros "wingless".

[edit] See also

• Snow scorpionfly (Boreidae), another family of scorpionflies with reduced or no wings