Caurinus tlagu
This record describes Caurinus tlagu (species). Recorded family: Boreidae. Recorded order: Mecoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wikipedia reference for Caurinus tlagu: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caurinus_tlagu.
Classification
Habitat and Range
Habitat
mostly perhumid rainforest, but also in alpine tundra
Geographic Range
Alaska, n. half Prince of Wales Is.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Caurinus tlagu Sikes & Stockbridge 2013
About Scorpionflies, Hangingflies, and Allies: the wider group
Order-level background for Mecoptera, the group containing Caurinus tlagu. 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 Caurinus tlagu (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by v belov