Boreus

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 backs during mating.

Species

These 27 species belong to the genus Boreus:

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

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

References

External links

• Photos at Bugguide
• DNA barcodes at BOLD