A Taxonomic Study On Panorpa Emarginata-Complex (Mecoptera: Panorpidae)

For being strict with habitat and weak ability to fly, the gene flow among conspecific populations in different areas of the scorpionflies Panorpa ( Mecoptera:Panorpidae ) is limited largely. Consequently the conspecific morphological diversity may exist among different geographic populations, particularly those variations on body size, wing marking, male genitalia etc may result in the main difficulty in identification. The author carried out morphological and biological studies on 12 species of P. emarginata-complex, including P. emarginata, P. dubia, P. obtusa, P. nanwutaina, P. wangwushana, P. byersi, P. brevicornis, P. elagans, P. bicornifera, P. centralis, P. alticola, P. bonis; in hope of laying foundation for taxonomic study on Panorpidae in China.Among the diagnosed 12 species, P. brevicornis and P. byersi are described as new to science; Two new synonyms are found, ie P. funiushana Hua & Chou, 1997(syn. of P. dubia Chou & Wang, 1981)and P. leei Cheng, 1949(syn. of P. emarginata Cheng, 1948). Eggs of four species, including P. brevicornis, P emarginata, P. obtusa, P. nanwutaina were obtained through rearing. Larvae of three species, including P. brevicornis, P. obtusa, P. nanwutaina, are obtained.Ultrastructures of the eggs of four species and the 1st instar larva of P. obtusa were conducted with SEM. Among the larvae of the three species, the setal plan presents minor difference, mainly expressed by the setal length and shape.SEM observation on adult cuticle structures showed that the antennae are mainly occupied by tactile hairs. Compound eyes are composed of numerous hexagonal facets, among which microsetae are present. Mandible flat, the lateral margins are nearly parallel, with two teeth at the distal part. The claw of pretarsus is well developed, curved, serrate with six or seven teeth. Scale-shaped structure could be found on the unguitractor. Both fore and hind wings possess three corneus spots.Through morphological study on Panorpa emarginata, P. dubia, P. obtusa, P. nanwutaina, extensive variations are present among conspecific individuals, mainly demonstrating on wing markings, color of rostrum, the 6th abdomen segment, and on the hypovalves, ninth abdominal tergum of male and ventral parameres in male individuals. The variations in female genitalia are not prominent, mainly in the shape of subgenital plate and that of concave of internal skelecton arms.P. brevicornis, P. obtusa, P. nanwutaina all complete one generation per year and all are the dorminate species for their large population of adults in field. P. nanwutaina fly from early May to mid July, while the other three species fly from late May to mid July. All the three species of larva undergo four instars, overwintering as mature larvae in soil chamber, pupating and emerging in next late April to early May. Larvae generally get mature and stop eating to overwinter in 30-50 days. The adults and larvae are sarcophagous, the newly hatched larvae often aet chorion.