The Snow Scorpionfly

摘要

It's December in northern Wisconsin and I'm cross-country skiing with my daughter, Brim Skis slide slowly through the snow (I'm not as spntely as I used to be), and I stare intently at the ground to keep my skis in the track. What to my wandering eyes should appear but a miniature black bug sauntering across the surface of the snow? I cannot imagine that there could be insects living on icy snow, but indeed, there are; and we stop for a moment to marvel at them. The first time I saw these black bugs, I had no idea what they were. Miniscule creatures, perhaps 0.5 cm long with six long legs and stout, elongated abdomens, black as the night. Of course, as befitting a true nature boy scientist/editor, I went back to our cabin and searched the Internet for the identity of my new found friend. The answer: Bonus brumalu, the snow scorpionfly.