Boreus elegans
This record describes Boreus elegans (species). Recorded family: Boreidae. Recorded order: Mecoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wikipedia reference for Boreus elegans: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boreus_elegans.
Classification
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
BC-WA
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Boreus elegans Carpenter 1935
About Scorpionflies, Hangingflies, and Allies: the wider group
Order-level background for Mecoptera, the group containing Boreus elegans. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Mecoptera (scorpionflies) includes ~600 described species. Males of many species have an upturned abdomen tip resembling a scorpion's stinger, but they are completely harmless. Mecoptera are among the oldest insect orders with fossils dating to the Permian period (~270 million years ago).
Ecological role of the group
Scorpionflies are primarily scavengers feeding on dead insects and decaying organic matter. Some species practice 'nuptial gifting' - males offer prey items or salivary secretions to females as mating gifts.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Scorpionflies have little direct economic impact but are valuable research subjects - they are considered ancestral to fleas and possibly to all holometabolous insects (those with complete metamorphosis).
Recorded sources for this group: Entomological research, paleontology. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Boreus elegans (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by v belov