WORLD CHECKLIST OF EXTANT MECOPTERA SPECIES

Earwig-flies are so-called because adult males have greatly enlarged genital claspers that superficially resemble the heavily sclerotized cerci of earwigs. Adults of the North American species are found in mid-summer, usually in forests near streams or moist seeps. Most individuals have been collected using flight intercept traps. The Australian species has been collected most frequently using pitfall traps in drier, more open savannah or desert. Nothing is known of immature stages.

The two known species have a remarkable geographical distribution. One species is only found in southwestern Australia. The other species is found in eastern North America. Until 80 years ago, all North American specimens were known from along the East Coast. However, during the last few decades they have been collected progressively farther west, and now are known as far west as Missouri and Kansas. Byers has speculated that this apparent range extension may be due to increased use of flight intercept traps, which are now a primary collecting device for these creatures. Byers has also postulated that Meropeidae may previously have had a Gondwanian distribution and have moved into North America from South America, where the family has either gone extinct or remains to be discovered.

Byers, G.W. 1973. Zoogeography of the Meropeidae (Mecoptera). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 46(4):511-516.

Faithfull, M.J., J.D. Majer and A.C. Postle. 1985. Some notes on the occurrence and seasonality of Austromerope poultoni Killington (Mecoptera) in Western Australia. Australian Entomological Magazine 12(3-4):57-60.

Last Update: 31 October 1997

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