Minnesota Scorpionflies, Hangingflies,
and Allies

Mecoptera is an order of insects that is most often described in terms of characteristics that they do not have. According to the World Checklist of Extant Mecoptera Species, the defining characteristics of Mecoptera are:

Hindwings are not modified into small halteres, as in Diptera. Forewings are not modified into sclerotized wing covers, as in Coleoptera. Wings are not covered with hairs or scales, as in Trichoptera and Lepidoptera. Their bodies are not strongly flattened and sclerotized for an ectoparasitic mode of existence, as in fleas. Forewings are similar in size and shape, unlike Hymenoptera. Wings usually do not have reticulate venation, with apical forks and twiggings, as in Neuroptera and Megaloptera. The thorax is not elongate, as in Raphidioptera (snake-flies). However, many of the modern families of Mecoptera have the mouthparts extended into an elongate rostrum.

The morphological diversity of the order suggests that it will eventually be reorganized as several groups. A 2002 DNA study suggests that the order Siphonaptera (fleas) should be included in this order, but this has not been widely adopted. The order currently includes scorpionflies, hangingflies, and the earwigfly or forcepfly.

There are about 550 species of Mecoptera in 9 families worldwide, 85 species in 5 families in North America north of Mexico, and at least 18 species in Minnesota.

Few species on the The List tab have a unique common name. They mostly go by the common name of the family to which their genus belongs.