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GEOGRAPHIC AFFINITIES OF THE NORTH AMERICAN MECOPTERA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

George W. Byers
George W. Byers*
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA 66045
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Abstract

Mecoptera of the Nearctic Region are, in general, more like those of the eastern Palaearctic than of any other faunal region. But the fossil record shows that our major extant genera have been in the northern continents since Early Cenozoic. Panorpidae and Panorpodidae probably entered North America by way of Beringia in the Eocene or Oligocene. Nearctic Bittacidae probably came from the Neotropical Region, but a few exhibit peculiar affinities with some eastern Asiatic species, suggesting migration out of the Nearctic into the Palaearctic. Boreidae appear to have been of North American origin but are now Holarctic; they are unknown as fossils. The Meropeidae were probably widespread in mid–Mesozoic but now are found only in eastern North America and western Australia.

Résumé

Les Mecoptera de la région Néarctique ressemblent plus en général à ceux de la région Paléarctique orientale que de toute région faunique. Mais les fossiles nous indiquent que les principaux genres actuels ont existé sur les continents nordiques depuis le Cénozoïque. Les Panorpidae et les Panorpodidae sont probablement entrés en Amérique du Nord par le Beringia durant l'Eocène ou l'Oligocène. Les Bittacidae néarctiques originent probablement de la région Néotropicale, mais quelques uns ont des affinités avec certains espèces de l'Asie orientale, suggérant leur migration hors de la région Néarctique vers la région Paléarctique. Les Boreidae semblent originer de l'Amérique du Nord, mais sont actuellement holarctiques. Les Meropeidae étaient probablement répandus au milieu du Mésozoïque, mais sont présentement limités à l'est de l'Amérique du Nord et à l'ouest de l'Australie.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada , Volume 120 , Supplement S144 , 1988 , pp. 25 - 30
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1988

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References

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