Panorpa americana Swederus, 1787
Diagnosis: This species is a part of the helena group with three complete bands across the wings. Males have an anal horn on the 6th abdominal segment; dorsal parameres that are long and appear apically truncate in ventral view; and a flat disc for a basal lobe of the dististyles. It differs from P. helena by having broad wings with yellow-tinted membrane and a merged first basal spot and humeral spot. Panorpa insolens has clear, transparent membrane on wings between bands, no bristles at the apico-mesal angle of the basistyles, and smooth vental parameres that cross apically.
Distribution – Geographical: This species is found along the Gulf Coast states of the U.S.A. and along the Atlantic Coast states as far north as New Jersey.
Distribution – Temporal: Late September until early November at lowland elevations below 300 m, except for one population at Yonah Mountain, Georgia, where adults emerge from 10-20 June at elevations between 450 and 850 m (Byers, 1993).
Ecology: This species appears to be found rather irregularly in forest-field ecotome habitats that contain honeysuckle, brambles, greenbrier, and poison ivy. Adults seem to rest very low on the vegetation (Byers, 1993).
Biology: Nothing is known of the immature stages or life history.
Notes:
References:
Byers, G.W. 1993. Autumnal Mecoptera of southeastern United States. University of Kansas Science Bulletin, 55(2):57-96.
Swederus, N. 1787. Fortsattning af beskrifningen pa 50 nya species af Insekter. Kungliga Svenska VetenskapsAkademiens Handlingar, 8:276-290.
