 |
Mecoptera are small to medium sized slender insects with long
filiform antennae. The head is extended into a deflexed rostrum or beak
with biting mouthparts at its end and is not broader than the front of
the thorax, the eyes are prominent and semi-globose. The legs are long
and slender, as are the 2 pairs of nearly equal wings which are also
membraneous and clear with various dark patterns. The larva are
generally eruciform (like a catapillar), but may be modified
scarabeiform (grub like, with a well developed head, a thick cylindrical
body and 3 pairs of thoracic legs, but no prolegs) i.e. Boridae and
Panorpidae, or campodeiform (elongate and flattened with well developed
legs and antennae) as in the Nanochoristidae. They have biting mouth
parts and 3 pairs of thoracic legs. The pupa is exarate (having its
appendages i.e. legs antennae etc. free outside of the main body of the
pupa) and dectitious |