| Unusual among
insects, Boreus hyemalis is active throughout
the Winter months and its habit of being found on lying
snow and making short jumps to escape, have led to the
common name of Snow Flea. Boreus hyemalis is the
less well known of the UK's four species of Mecoptera
(Scorpion Flies). Described as being common across the
UK, there are few records from much of England south of
the Midlands and we can currently trace no other
Nottinghamshire records. A single record found on the NBN
Gateway and listed as 'the Nottingham area 1836' seems to
been from near Codnor in Derbyshire. This mating pair
(the female is always on top in Boreus hyemalis)
were found within 30 minutes of searching suitable mossy
habitat, at Sherwood Forest CP in early January 2014. |
