Abstract
Five species of Mecoptera (three species of Panorpidae and two species of Bittacidae) were recorded in the Tama Forest Science Garden, the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Hachioji City, Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. Seasonal abundance parterns of these species were studied by examining the collection dates for specimens preserved and also by conducting a series of transect counts from April through October in 2017. Univoltine species varied in their phenology: Panorpa fulvicaudaria Miyake and P. wormaldi MacLachlan appeared from April to May, Bittacus takaoensis Miyake almost only in early May, whereas B. nipponicus Navás appeared from June to July. Bivoltine Panorpa japonica Thunberg appeared in May and June in a first brood and from late August to October in a second brood. The very short appearance period of B. takaoensis could be the reason why the species has never been found in or around its type locality, Mt. Takao, since the original description in 1913. The first brood of P. japonica was the most abundant on the basis of counts per generation made by the transect census, B. takaoensis was the next, whereas P. wormaldi was the least abundant. Tama Forest Science Garden has a relatively rich mecopteran fauna as a low elevation area in the Tokyo Metropolis, reflecting its stable forest environment.
