Systematic revision of the Panorpa deceptor group (Mecoptera: Panorpidae), with descriptions of seven new species from China

The scorpionfly genus Panorpa Linnaeus, 1758 is confirmed paraphyletic, with East Asia as a major center of diversity. The Panorpa deceptor group previously comprised 39 species distributed in China, Japan, and Thailand; however, many morphological characters traditionally used are non-diagnostic, and species diversity within the group has been underestimated. Here, I provide a checklist, key to species, and a distribution map for this group, and discuss its evolutionary and biogeographical implications. Seven species are described as new: P. acharya sp. nov., P. dujingzhei sp. nov., P. huboliao sp. nov., P. lahu sp. nov., P. temperata sp. nov., P. yixini sp. nov., and P. zhengxinyiae sp. nov. New material of P. auripennis Bicha, 2019 from China is also illustrated and discussed. This revision updates the species number for this group from 39 to 46, and provides a basis for future studies on the taxonomy and phylogeny of Panorpa.