Abstract
We present new distributional records for two Colombian species of Bittacidae. Pazius convolutus García-García & Cadena-Castañeda, 2015 and Bittacus panamensis Byers, 1958 previously known from Cundinamarca department are herein newly recorded from Santander and Magdalena, respectively. In addition, we recorded Bittacus pignatelli Navás, 1932 in Colombia for the first time, increasing the number of species of Mecoptera in the country. Comments about mating behavior of P. convolutus, as well as a distribution map and a check-list of Colombian species of Mecoptera are included.
Highlights
Mecoptera is a relictual order of ancient holometabolous insects that includes nine families, 34 genera and an estimate of 600 species
The species was originally described from Panama, but accounts with records from Colombia, Costa Rica and Venezuela (Machado et al, 2009; Rodríguez et al, 2009)
Most of the Colombian territory comprises plains below of 500 m.a.s.l, and it can be divided into two major regions
Summary
Mecoptera is a relictual order of ancient holometabolous insects that includes nine families, 34 genera and an estimate of 600 species. This order has a widespread distribution and it occurs in all continents (Byers & Thornhill, 1983). In the Neotropical region the Mecoptera is composed of 106 species in 12 genera and five families, being Bittacidae the most species rich family (Machado et al, 2009; Machado et al, 2013; Contreras-Ramos et al, 2014). Specimens are rarely collected, and it is considered an elusive group of animals (Collucci & Machado, 2012). A great extent of the Neotropical region lacks adequate sampling, the museum specimens are scarce, collecting methods are not stan-
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have