Wikimedia Commons has media related to
Bittacidae.
Bittacidae is a family of
scorpionflies commonly called hangingflies or hanging scorpionflies.
The genus Bittacus, comprising approximately 75% of all species within the family, occurs worldwide. Other genera are mostly confined to South America or Australia. Members of this family may be confused with
crane flies, in the order
Diptera, but can be distinguished by their two pairs of wings and lack of
halteres.
They are distinguished in the fact that during mating the male captures a prey insect and offers it to the female as a
nuptial gift. The larger the prey item is, the more receptive the female will be to mating.[1]
Genera
This list is based on The World Checklist of extant Mecoptera Species.[2] Presumably complete up to 1997, it is updated as needed. The number of species in each genus are in parentheses. A number of extinct(†) genera have been described from the fossil record.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to
Bittacidae.
Bittacidae is a family of
scorpionflies commonly called hangingflies or hanging scorpionflies.
The genus Bittacus, comprising approximately 75% of all species within the family, occurs worldwide. Other genera are mostly confined to South America or Australia. Members of this family may be confused with
crane flies, in the order
Diptera, but can be distinguished by their two pairs of wings and lack of
halteres.
They are distinguished in the fact that during mating the male captures a prey insect and offers it to the female as a
nuptial gift. The larger the prey item is, the more receptive the female will be to mating.[1]
Genera
This list is based on The World Checklist of extant Mecoptera Species.[2] Presumably complete up to 1997, it is updated as needed. The number of species in each genus are in parentheses. A number of extinct(†) genera have been described from the fossil record.