Panorpa

Panorpa
female P. vulgaris
male P. alpina
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Mecoptera
Family: Panorpidae
Genus: Panorpa
Linnaeus, 1758
Species

See text

Panorpa is a genus of scorpionflies that is widely dispersed in the Northern hemisphere. However, they do not occur in the western United States nor Canada.

About 240 species are described as of 2007.

Larvae and adults feed on carrion.[1]

The species P. vulgaris, has become a model insect for testing theories of sexual selection as its mating system has been noted to be similar to that of humans in some aspects.[2] Studies show that both sexes of the species display mating preferences for direct (e.g. nuptial gifts) and indirect benefits (e.g. genetic benefits) to increase reproductive success. The production of nuptial gifts during copulation in males (e.g. salivary secretion) and high nutritional condition in females are indicators of "good foraging genes", an indirect benefit that individuals look for in their partners. These genetic benefits can increase fitness in offspring and improve their foraging ability.[3]

The life-cycle of Panorpa nuptialis and its habits, have become of interest in the field of forensic entomology.[4]

Species

This list is adapted from the World Checklist of extant Mecoptera species: Panorpa and complete as of 1997.
  • Panorpa annexa latina Navás, 1928 (Italy)
  • Panorpa annexa subalpina Navás, 1928 (Italy)
  • Panorpa annexa etrusca Willmann, 1976 (Italy)
  • Panorpa cognata osellai Willmann, 1976 (Italy)
P. communis
  • Panorpa communis raehlei Lauterbach, 1970 (Europe)
  • Panorpa dichotoma dichotoma Miyamoto, 1977 (Japan)
  • Panorpa dichotoma intermedia Miyamoto, 1977 (Japan)
  • Panorpa germanica riegeri Lauterbach, 1971 (Germany)
  • Panorpa germanica euboica Lauterbach, 1972 (Balkans of southern Europe)
  • Panorpa germanica graeca Lauterbach, 1972 (Greece)
  • Panorpa germanica rumelica Lauterbach, 1972 (Turkey)
  • Panorpa gokaensis togephora Miyamoto, 1984 (Japan)
P. nuptialis
  • Panorpa sexspinosa sexspinosa Cheng, 1949 (China: Shensi)
  • Panorpa sexspinosa zhongnanensis Chou & Wang, 1981 (China)
  • Panorpa tatvana tatvana Willmann, 1974 (Turkey)
  • Panorpa tatvana ressli Willmann, 1975 (Turkey)
  • Panorpa turcica anatolica Willmann, 1975 (Turkey)
  • Panorpa turcica pontica Willmann, 1975 (Turkey)

References

  1. ↑ Byers, G.W., Annals of the Entomological Society of America, Volume 47, Number 3, September 1954 , pp. 484-510(27)
  2. ↑ Sauer, K. P.; Lubjuhn, T.; Sindern, J.; Kurtz, J.; Epplen, C.; Epplen, J. T. (1998). "Mating System and Sexual Selection in the Scorpionfly Panorpa vulgaris (Mecoptera: Panorpidae)". The Science of Nature. 85 (5): 218. doi:10.1007/s001140050487.
  3. ↑ http://nekhbet.com/forage.pdf
  4. ↑ https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/01/150122084857.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fstrange_offbeat+%28Strange+%26+Offbeat+News+--+ScienceDaily%29
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