Boreus hiemalis2 detail.jpg

''Boreus'' is the most diverse of three genera of insects in the family Boreidae. They are commonly known as winter scorpionflies due to their close relation to the true scorpionflies and preference for cold habitats.

Description and distribution

Species of ''Boreus'' are dark in color, 3 to 5 mm long, and have reduced, non-functional wings. In males, the wings resemble straps, while in females they are short stubs. Females also have a pointed ovipositor. Both sexes have an elongated head, or rostrum. Larvae are grublike, mostly hairless and lacking prolegs.

They have a holarctic distribution and are found in boreal and high altitude habitats.

Biology

''Boreus'' species are highly adapted to cold environments and often found on the surface of snow. Although they cannot fly, they have the ability to hop or jump. All species are known to feed on mosses, both as adults and larvae. Males use their hardened wing straps to grasp the female and lift her above their back during mating.

Species

These 27 species belong to the genus ''Boreus'':

* ''Boreus beybienkoi'' Tarbinsky, 1962 ^{i c g}
* ''Boreus bomari'' Byers and Shaw, 2000 ^{i c g}
* ''Boreus borealis'' Banks, 1923 ^{i c g}
* '' Boreus brumalis'' Fitch, 1847 ^{i c g b} (mid-winter boreus)
* ''Boreus californicus'' Packard, 1870 ^{i c g b}
* ''Boreus chagzhigireji'' Pliginsky, 1914 ^{i c g}
* ''Boreus coloradensis'' Byers, 1955 ^{i c g b}
* ''Boreus elegans'' Carpenter, 1935 ^{i c g b}
* ''Boreus hyemalis'' (Linnaeus, 1767) ^{i c g}
* '' Boreus insulanus'' Blades, 2002 ^{i c g b}
* ''Boreus intermedius'' Lloyd, 1934 ^{i c g}
* ''Boreus jacutensis'' Plutenko, 1984 ^{i c g}
* ''Boreus jezoensis'' Hori and Morimoto, 1996 ^{i c g}
* ''Boreus kratochvili'' Mayer, 1938 ^{i c g}
* ''Boreus lokayi'' Klapálek, 1901 ^{i c g}
* ''Boreus navasi'' Pliginsky, 1914 ^{i c g}
* ''Boreus nivoriundus'' Fitch, 1847 ^{i c g b} (snow-born boreus)
* ''Boreus nix'' Carpenter, 1935 ^{i c g b}
* ''Boreus orientalis'' Martynova, 1954 ^{i c g}
* ''Boreus pilosus'' Carpenter, 1935 ^{i c g}
* ''Boreus reductus'' Carpenter, 1933 ^{i c g}
* ''Boreus semenovi'' Pliginsky, 1930 ^{i c g}
* '' Boreus sjostedti'' Navás, 1926 ^{i c g}
* ''Boreus tardokijanensis'' Plutenko, 1985 ^{i c g}
* ''Boreus unicolor'' Hine ^g
* ''Boreus vlasovi'' Martynova, 1954 ^{i c g}
* ''Boreus westwoodi'' Hagen, 1866 ^{i c g}

Data sources: i = ITIS, c = Catalogue of Life, g = GBIF, b = Bugguide.net

References

External links

* Photos a
Bugguide
* DNA barcodes a
BOLD

{{Taxonbar, from=Q893511

Snow scorpionflies