View source for Boreus

{{Short description|Genus of insects}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| name = Winter scorpionflies
| image = Boreus westwoodi f.jpg
| image_caption = ''B. westwoodi'' female
| taxon = Boreus
| authority = Latreille, 1816
}}
'''''Boreus''''' is the most diverse of three genera of [[Insect|insects]] in the [[Family (biology)|family]] [[Boreidae]]. They are commonly known as winter scorpionflies due to their close relation to the true [[Panorpidae|scorpionflies]] and preference for cold habitats.
== Description and distribution ==
Species of ''Boreus'' are dark in color, 3 to 5 mm long, and have reduced, non-functional wings. In males, the wings resemble straps, while in females they are short stubs. Females also have a pointed [[ovipositor]]. Both sexes have an elongated head, or rostrum. Larvae are [[Larva|grublike]], mostly hairless and lacking prolegs.
They have a [[holarctic]] distribution and are found in [[Boreal ecosystem|boreal]] and high altitude habitats.<ref>Hågvar, Sigmund. "[http://www.eje.cz/pdfs/eje/2010/03/01.pdf A review of Fennoscandian arthropods living on and in snow]." European Journal of Entomology 107.3 (2010).</ref>
== Biology ==
[[File:Boreus hyemalis male.jpg|thumb|''B. hyemalis'' male]]
''Boreus'' species are highly adapted to cold environments and often found on the surface of snow. Although they cannot fly, they have the ability to hop or jump. All species are known to feed on [[Moss|mosses]], both as adults and larvae. Males use their hardened wing straps to grasp the female and lift her above their back during mating.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.emporia.edu/ksn/v48n1-may2002/|title=Vol 48, No 1 - Scorpionflies, Hangingflies, and other Mecoptera - The Kansas School Naturalist|publisher=Emporia State University|website=www.emporia.edu|access-date=November 16, 2017|archive-date=November 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117002425/https://www.emporia.edu/ksn/v48n1-may2002/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Species==
These 27 species belong to the genus ''Boreus'':
{{Div col|colwidth=27em}}
* ''[[Boreus beybienkoi]]'' <small>Tarbinsky, 1962</small><span style="color:gray"><sup> i c g</sup></span>
* ''[[Boreus bomari]]'' <small>Byers and Shaw, 2000</small><span style="color:gray"><sup> i c g</sup></span>
* ''[[Boreus borealis]]'' <small>Banks, 1923</small><span style="color:gray"><sup> i c g</sup></span>
* ''[[Boreus brumalis]]'' <small>Fitch, 1847</small><span style="color:gray"><sup> i c g b</sup></span> (mid-winter boreus)
* ''[[Boreus californicus]]'' <small>Packard, 1870</small><span style="color:gray"><sup> i c g b</sup></span>
* ''[[Boreus chagzhigireji]]'' <small>Pliginsky, 1914</small><span style="color:gray"><sup> i c g</sup></span>
* ''[[Boreus coloradensis]]'' <small>Byers, 1955</small><span style="color:gray"><sup> i c g b</sup></span>
* ''[[Boreus elegans]]'' <small>Carpenter, 1935</small><span style="color:gray"><sup> i c g b</sup></span>
* ''[[Boreus hyemalis]]'' <small>(Linnaeus, 1767)</small><span style="color:gray"><sup> i c g</sup></span>
* ''[[Boreus insulanus]]'' <small>Blades, 2002</small><span style="color:gray"><sup> i c g b</sup></span>
* ''[[Boreus intermedius]]'' <small>Lloyd, 1934</small><span style="color:gray"><sup> i c g</sup></span>
* ''[[Boreus jacutensis]]'' <small>Plutenko, 1984</small><span style="color:gray"><sup> i c g</sup></span>
* ''[[Boreus jezoensis]]'' <small>Hori and Morimoto, 1996</small><span style="color:gray"><sup> i c g</sup></span>
* ''[[Boreus kratochvili]]'' <small>Mayer, 1938</small><span style="color:gray"><sup> i c g</sup></span>
* ''[[Boreus lokayi]]'' <small>Klapálek, 1901</small><span style="color:gray"><sup> i c g</sup></span>
* ''[[Boreus navasi]]'' <small>Pliginsky, 1914</small><span style="color:gray"><sup> i c g</sup></span>
* ''[[Boreus nivoriundus]]'' <small>Fitch, 1847</small><span style="color:gray"><sup> i c g b</sup></span> (snow-born boreus)
* ''[[Boreus nix]]'' <small>Carpenter, 1935</small><span style="color:gray"><sup> i c g b</sup></span>
* ''[[Boreus orientalis]]'' <small>Martynova, 1954</small><span style="color:gray"><sup> i c g</sup></span>
* ''[[Boreus pilosus]]'' <small>Carpenter, 1935</small><span style="color:gray"><sup> i c g</sup></span>
* ''[[Boreus reductus]]'' <small>Carpenter, 1933</small><span style="color:gray"><sup> i c g</sup></span>
* ''[[Boreus semenovi]]'' <small>Pliginsky, 1930</small><span style="color:gray"><sup> i c g</sup></span>
* ''[[Boreus sjostedti]]'' <small>Navás, 1926</small><span style="color:gray"><sup> i c g</sup></span>
* ''[[Boreus tardokijanensis]]'' <small>Plutenko, 1985</small><span style="color:gray"><sup> i c g</sup></span>
* ''[[Boreus unicolor]]'' <small>Hine</small><span style="color:gray"><sup> g</sup></span>
* ''[[Boreus vlasovi]]'' <small>Martynova, 1954</small><span style="color:gray"><sup> i c g</sup></span>
* ''[[Boreus westwoodi]]'' <small>Hagen, 1866</small><span style="color:gray"><sup> i c g</sup></span>
{{Div col end}}
<small>Data sources: i = ITIS,<ref name=itis/> c = Catalogue of Life,<ref name=catlife/> g = GBIF,<ref name=gbif/> b = Bugguide.net<ref name=bugref/></small>
== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name=itis>{{cite web | url=https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=660878 | title=''Boreus'' Report | accessdate=March 16, 2018 | website=Integrated Taxonomic Information System}}</ref>
<!--<ref name=eol>
<ref name="catlife">{{cite web | url=http://www.catalogueoflife.org/col/browse/tree/id/f87e57bc186a7add6ca2e9cc2d6d6209 | title=Browse ''Boreus'' | accessdate=March 16, 2018 | website=Catalogue of Life}}</ref>-->
<ref name=gbif>{{cite web | url=https://www.gbif.org/species/1031891 | title=''Boreus'' | accessdate=March 16, 2018 | website=GBIF}}</ref>
<ref name=catlife>{{Cite web| title=Browse ''Boreus''| url=http://www.catalogueoflife.org/col/browse/tree/id/f87e57bc186a7add6ca2e9cc2d6d6209| website=Catalogue of Life| accessdate=March 16, 2018| archive-date=March 5, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180305064002/http://www.catalogueoflife.org/col/browse/tree/id/f87e57bc186a7add6ca2e9cc2d6d6209| url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name=bugref>{{cite web | url=https://bugguide.net/node/view/36700 | title=''Boreus'' Genus Information | accessdate=March 16, 2018 | website=BugGuide.net}}</ref>
}}
== External links ==
* Photos at [https://bugguide.net/node/view/36700/bgimage Bugguide]
* DNA barcodes at [http://www.boldsystems.org/index.php/Taxbrowser_Taxonpage?searchMenu=taxonomy&query=boreus&taxon=boreus BOLD]
{{Taxonbar|from=Q893511}}
[[Category:Boreus| ]]
[[Category:Snow scorpionflies]]