Bittacidae is a family of

scorpionflies Mecoptera (from the Greek language, Greek: ''mecos'' = "long", ''ptera'' = "wings") is an Order (biology), order of insects in the superorder Holometabola with about six hundred species in nine Family (biology), families worldwide. Mecopterans a ...

commonly called hangingflies or hanging scorpionflies. The genus ''Bittacus'', comprising approximately 75% of all species within the family, occurs worldwide. Other genera are mostly confined to South America or Australia. Members of this family may be confused with

crane flies A crane fly is any member of the dipteran superfamily Tipuloidea, which contains the living families Cylindrotomidae, Limoniidae, Pediciidae and Tipulidae, as well as several extinct families. "Winter crane flies", members of the family T ...

, in the order

Diptera Flies are insects of the order Diptera, the name being derived from the Greek δι- ''di-'' "two", and πτερόν ''pteron'' "wing". Insects of this order use only a single pair of wings to fly, the hindwings having evolved into advance ...

, but can be distinguished by their two pairs of wings and lack of

haltere ''Halteres'' (; singular ''halter'' or ''haltere'') (from , hand-held weights to give an impetus in leaping) are a pair of small club-shaped organs on the body of two orders of flying insects that provide information about body rotations du ...

s. They are distinguished in the fact that during mating the male captures a prey insect and offers it to the female as a

nuptial gift Formally, a nuptial gift is a material presentation to a recipient by a donor during or in relation to sexual intercourse that is not simply gametes in order to improve the reproductive fitness of the donor. Often, such a gift will improve the fit ...

. The larger the prey item is, the more receptive the female will be to mating.

Genera

This list is based on ''The World Checklist of extant Mecoptera Species''. Presumably complete up to 1997, it is updated as needed. The number of species in each genus are in parentheses. A number of extinct(†) genera have been described from the fossil record. * '' Anabittacus'' (1) Kimmins, 1929 (Chile) * '' Anomalobittacus'' (1) Kimmins, 1928 (South Africa) * ''

Apterobittacus ''Apterobittacus'' is a genus of hangingflies Bittacidae is a family of Mecoptera, scorpionflies commonly called hangingflies or hanging scorpionflies. The genus ''Bittacus'', comprising approximately 75% of all species within the family, oc ...

'' (1) MacLachlan, 1893 (California) * '' Austrobittacus'' (1) Riek, 1954 (Australia) * ''

Bittacus ''Bittacus'' is a genus of hangingflies in the order Mecoptera. Members of the genus have a cosmopolitan distribution. The genus has existed since at least the earliest Late Cretaceous. ''Bittacus'' is considered "grossly paraphyletic" and serves ...

'' (124) Latreille, 1805 (worldwide) * '' Edriobittacus'' (1) Byers, 1974 (Australia) * ''

Harpobittacus ''Harpobittacus'' is a genus of hangingfly of the family Bittacidae found in Australia. Habitat and Development Species of ''Harpobittacus'' are found in moist environments as larvae and adults. The adults are active from October to February ...

'' (12) Gerstaecker, 1885 (Australia) * ''

Hylobittacus ''Hylobittacus apicalis'' is a species of hangingfly in the order Mecoptera, and the only species within the genus ''Hylobittacus''.Byers, G. W. and Thornhill, R. 1983. Biology of The Mecoptera. Annual Review of Entomology 28: 203-228. Descript ...

'' (1) Byers, 1979 (United States, Mexico + fossil species from the

Eocene The Eocene ( ) is a geological epoch (geology), epoch that lasted from about 56 to 33.9 million years ago (Ma). It is the second epoch of the Paleogene Period (geology), Period in the modern Cenozoic Era (geology), Era. The name ''Eocene'' comes ...

Bitterfield and

Baltic amber Baltic amber or succinite is amber from the Baltic region, home of its largest known deposits. It was produced sometime during the Eocene epoch, but exactly when is controversial. It has been estimated that this forested region provided the re ...

of Europe) * '' Issikiella'' (5) Byers, 1972 (South America) * '' Kalobittacus'' (8) Esben-Petersen, 1914 (Central America) * '' Nannobittacus'' (4) Esben-Petersen, 1927 (Brazil to Panama) * '' Neobittacus'' (2) Esben-Petersen, 1914 (Brazil) * '' Orobittacus'' Villegas & Byers, 1982 (California) * '' Pazius'' (8) Navás, 1913 (Brazil to Panama) * '' Symbittacus'' Byers, 1986 (Australia) * '' Tytthobittacus'' Smithers, 1973 (Australia + fossil species from the Early Cretaceous (

Berriasian In the geological timescale, the Berriasian is an age/ stage of the Early/Lower Cretaceous. It is the oldest subdivision in the entire Cretaceous. It has been taken to span the time between 143.1 ±0.6 Ma and 137.05 ± 0.2 (million years ago) ...

) aged

Purbeck Group The Purbeck Group is an Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous lithostratigraphy, lithostratigraphic group (stratigraphy), group (a sequence of rock strata) in south-east England. The name is derived from the district known as the Isle of Purbeck in ...

) Extinct genera * †'' Antiquanabittacus'' (1) Petrulevicius and Jarzembowski 2004

Weald Clay Weald Clay or the Weald Clay Formation is a Lower Cretaceous sedimentary rock unit underlying areas of South East England, between the North and South Downs, in an area called the Weald Basin. It is the uppermost unit of the Wealden Group of ...

, United Kingdom, Early Cretaceous (

Barremian The Barremian is an age in the geologic timescale (or a chronostratigraphic stage) between 125.77 Ma (million years ago) and 121.4 ± 1.0 Ma (Historically, this stage was placed at 129.4 million to approximately 125 million years ago) It is a ...

) * †'' Archebittacus'' (1) Riek, 1955 (

Mount Crosby Formation Mount is often used as part of the name of specific mountains, e.g. Mount Everest. Mount or Mounts may also refer to: Places * Mount, Cornwall, a village in Warleggan parish, England * Mount, Perranzabuloe, a hamlet in Perranzabuloe parish, ...

, Australia,

Late Triassic The Late Triassic is the third and final epoch (geology), epoch of the Triassic geologic time scale, Period in the geologic time scale, spanning the time between annum, Ma and Ma (million years ago). It is preceded by the Middle Triassic Epoch a ...

(Norian) * †'' Asiobittacus'' (1) Novokshonov 1993 Sagul Formation, Kyrgyzstan, Early Jurassic (

Toarcian The Toarcian is, in the International Commission on Stratigraphy, ICS' geologic timescale, an age (geology), age and stage (stratigraphy), stage in the Early Jurassic, Early or Lower Jurassic. It spans the time between 184.2 Megaannum, Ma (million ...

) * †'' Baissobittacus'' (1) Novokshonov 1997

Zaza Formation The Zaza Formation is a geological formation located in Buryatia (Russia). It dates to the Lower Cretaceous. The age of the formation is disputed, and is considered likely to be Valanginian-Hauterivian, or Aptian in age. It comprises sandstones, ...

, Russia, Early Cretaceous (

Aptian The Aptian is an age (geology), age in the geologic timescale or a stage (stratigraphy), stage in the stratigraphic column. It is a subdivision of the Early Cretaceous, Early or Lower Cretaceous epoch (geology), Epoch or series (stratigraphy), S ...

) * †'' Burmobittacus'' (1) Zhao et al. 2016

Burmese amber Burmese amber, also known as Burmite or Kachin amber, is amber from the Hukawng Valley in northern Myanmar. The amber is dated to around 100 million years ago, during the latest Albian to earliest Cenomanian ages of the mid-Cretaceous period. Th ...

, Myanmar, mid Cretaceous (

Albian The Albian is both an age (geology), age of the geologic timescale and a stage (stratigraphy), stage in the stratigraphic column. It is the youngest or uppermost subdivision of the Early Cretaceous, Early/Lower Cretaceous epoch (geology), Epoch/s ...

Cenomanian The Cenomanian is, in the International Commission on Stratigraphy's (ICS) geological timescale, the oldest or earliest age (geology), age of the Late Cretaceous epoch (geology), Epoch or the lowest stage (stratigraphy), stage of the Upper Cretace ...

) * †'' Composibittacus'' (2) Liu et al. 2016

Daohugou The Haifanggou Formation (), also known as the Jiulongshan Formation (), is a fossil-bearing rock deposit located near Daohugou () village of Ningcheng County, in Inner Mongolia, northeastern China. The formation consists of coarse conglomerates ...

, China, Middle Jurassic (

Callovian In the geologic timescale, the Callovian is an age and stage in the Middle Jurassic, lasting between 165.3 ± 1.1 Ma (million years ago) and 161.5 ± 1.0 Ma. It is the last stage of the Middle Jurassic, following the Bathonian and preceding the ...

) * †'' Cretobittacus'' (1) Novokshonov 1993 Zaza Formation, Russia, Aptian * †'' Decoribittacus'' (2) Li and Ren 2009 Daohugou, China, Callovian * †'' Exilibittacus'' (3) Yang et al. 2012 Daohugou, China, Callovian * †'' Formosibittacus'' (1) Li, Ren & Shih, 2008 Daohugou, China, Callovian * †'' Haplobittacus'' (1) Bode 1953

Posidonia Shale The Posidonia Shale (, also called Schistes Bitumineux in Luxembourg) geologically known as the Sachrang Formation, is an Early Jurassic (Early to Late Toarcian) geological formation in Germany, northern Switzerland, northwestern Austria, souther ...

, Germany, Toarcian) * †'' Jurahylobittacus'' (1) Li, Ren & Shih, 2008 Daohugou, China, Callovian * †'' Karattacus'' (2) Novokshonov 1997 Daohugou, China, Callovian

Karabastau Formation The Karabastau Formation () is a geological formation and lagerstätte in the Karatau Mountains of southern Kazakhstan whose strata date to the Middle to Late Jurassic. It is an important locality for insect fossils that has been studied since ...

, Kazakhstan, Late Jurassic * †'' Liaobittacus'' (1) Ren 1993

Haifanggou Formation The Haifanggou Formation (), also known as the Jiulongshan Formation (), is a fossil-bearing rock deposit located near Daohugou () village of Ningcheng County, in Inner Mongolia, northeastern China. The formation consists of coarse conglomerates ...

, China, Callovian * †'' Mesobittacus'' (4) Handlirsch 1939

, " Green Series", Germany, Toarcian,

Itat Formation The Itat Formation (Russian: итатская свита) is a geologic formation in western Siberia. It was deposited in the Bajocian to Bathonian ages of the Middle Jurassic. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from ...

, Russia, Middle Jurassic (Bathonian) * †'' Mongolbittacus'' (3) Petrulevicius, Huang & Ren, 2007 Daohugou, China, Callovian * †'' Neorthophlebia'' (12) Handlirsch 1906

Dzhil Formation Dzhil may refer to: * Jil, Armenia Jil () is a village in the Shoghakat Municipality of the Gegharkunik Province of Armenia, located near the northern shore of Lake Sevan. Most of the beach in close proximity to the village remains uninhabited w ...

, Kyrgyzstan, Early Jurassic (

Hettangian The Hettangian is the earliest age and lowest stage of the Jurassic Period of the geologic timescale. It spans the time between 201.3 ± 0.2 Ma and 199.3 ± 0.3 Ma (million years ago). The Hettangian follows the Rhaetian (part of the Triass ...

Sinemurian In the geologic timescale, the Sinemurian is an age (geology), age and stage (stratigraphy), stage in the Early Jurassic, Early or Lower Jurassic epoch (geology), Epoch or series (stratigraphy), Series. It spans the time between 199.5 ±0.3 annu ...

) Posidonia Shale, "Green Series", Germany, Sulyukta Formation, Kyrgyzstan, Toarcian, Tugnuy Formation, Russia, Upper Jurassic, Tuodian Formation, China, Late Jurassic ( Oxfordian) * †'' Orobittacus'' (2) Villegas and Byers 1981 Karabastau Formation, Kazakhstan, Late Jurassic, Sharteg, Mongolia, Late Jurassic (

Tithonian In the geological timescale, the Tithonian is the latest age (geology), age of the Late Jurassic Epoch and the uppermost stage (stratigraphy), stage of the Upper Jurassic Series. It spans the time between 149.2 ±0.7 annum, Ma and 143.1 ±0.6 (mi ...

) * †'' Orthobittacus'' (4) Willmann 1989 Kyzyl-Kiya, Kyrgyzstan, Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian), Daohugou, China, Callovian, Karabastau Formation, Kazakhstan, Late Jurassic * †'' Palaeobittacus'' (1) Carpenter 1928

Green River Formation The Green River Formation is an Eocene geologic formation that records the sedimentation in a group of intermountain lakes in three basins along the present-day Green River (Colorado River), Green River in Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah. The sedimen ...

, Colorado,

* †'' Parabittacus'' (2) Handlirsch 1939 Posidonia Shale, "Green Series", Germany, Toarcian * †'' Pleobittacus'' (1) Bode 1953 Posidonia Shale, Germany, Toarcian * †'' Plesiobittacus'' (1) Novokshonov 1997 Sagul Formation, Kyrgyzstan, Toarcian * †'' Preanabittacus'' (2) Novokshonov 1993 Daohugou, China, Callovian Karabastau Formation, Kazakhstan, Late Jurassic * †'' Probittacus'' (1) Martynov 1927 Karabastau Formation, Kazakhstan, Late Jurassic * †'' Prohylobittacus'' (1) Novokshonov 1993 Karabastau Formation, Kazakhstan, Late Jurassic * †'' Scharabittacus'' (3) Novokshonov 1993 Karabastau Formation, Kazakhstan, Late Jurassic Sharteg, Mongolia, Tithonian * †'' Sibirobittacus'' (3) Sukacheva 1990 Karabastau Formation, Kazakhstan, Late Jurassic

Glushkovo Formation Glushkovo () is the name of several types of inhabited localities in Russia, inhabited localities in Russia. ;Urban localities *Glushkovo, Glushkovsky District, Kursk Oblast, a urban-type settlement, work settlement in Glushkovsky District of Kursk ...

, Russia, Tithonian,

Yixian Formation The Yixian Formation (; formerly Romanization of Chinese, transcribed as Yihsien Formation or Yixiang Formation) is a geological formation in Jinzhou, Liaoning, People's Republic of China, that spans the Barremian stage of the Early Cretaceous. I ...

, China, Aptian

References

External links

* {{Authority control Mecoptera Taxa named by Anton Handlirsch