Larval Descriptions of Two Species of Panorpa (Mecoptera: Panorpidae), with Notes on Their Biology1

The larvae of Panorpa lugubris Swederus and Panorpa virginica Banks are described and keyed. Adults of P. lugubris inhabit open fields, whereas adults of P. virginica, more typical of the genus, are found along the edge of wooded areas. In the laboratory, adults of both species readily accepted dead grasshoppers as food. Larvae of both species consumed dead grasshoppers, dead flies, mushrooms, and other plant material. P. virginica fared best on mushrooms, while P. lugubris developed rapidly on the dead insects.