Panorpidae is the most species‐rich family in Mecoptera with ca. 470 species in the Northern Hemisphere. However, the intergeneric phylogenetic relationships of Panorpidae remain unsatisfactorily resolved to date. Here, we used molecular and cytogenetic approaches to determine the phylogenetic relationships of Panorpidae in the evolutionary scenario of chromosomes, and estimated their divergence times using fossil‐calibrated Bayesian analysis. In total, 89 species representing all seven genera of Panorpidae were used to reconstruct the phylogenetic trees using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference based on the nuclear 28S rRNA and mitochondrial cox1 and cox2 genes. The results reveal that Panorpidae is a well‐supported monophyletic group that can be categorized into two major clades. Major Clade I comprises Neopanorpa and Leptopanorpa, and Major Clade II consists of all the other genera (Cerapanorpa, Dicerapanorpa, Furcatopanorpa, Panorpa and Sinopanorpa). Neopanorpa and Cerapanorpa are regarded as paraphyletic groups for the first time. BEAST analysis indicates that Panorpidae originated in the Lower Cretaceous approximately 122.5 Ma (96.8–149.3 Ma), and that most diversification occurred from the Selandian (59.8 Ma) to the Middle Pleistocene (0.6 Ma) in the Cenozoic. Cytogenetic data plotted on the cladogram show that the lineage differentiation of Panorpidae is closely related to the chromosomal evolution, especially the reduction of chromosome number. Our study suggests that a taxonomic revision of Panorpidae is urgently needed at the generic level.

The representatives of the enigmatic genus Leptopanorpa MacLachlan are characterized by exaggeratedly elongated male abdomens and are likely endemic to Java and Sumatra, Indonesia. Here, we present a taxonomical revision of 14 species of Leptopanorpa, including two new species: Leptopanorpa linyejiei sp. n. from West Java and Leptopanorpa majapahita sp. n. from East Java. A key to species of Leptopanorpa is provided. Leptopanorpa sieboldi MacLachlan is treated as a junior synonym of Leptopanorpa charpentieri (Burmeister), and Leptopanorpa pi decorata Lieftinck is synonymized with Leptopanorpa pi (van der Weele). Leptopanorpa peterseni Lieftinck is reported from Bali for the first time. In order to unravel the phylogeny of Leptopanorpa and other groups with elongated male abdomens, maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference analyses were performed based on 61 morphological characters and partial sequences of one nuclear gene (28S ribosomal RNA) and two mitochondrial genes (cytochrome c oxidase subunits I and II). Thirty‐three species in Panorpoidea were selected as in‐group taxa and two species in Choristidae as out‐group taxa. The results highly support a monophyletic Leptopanorpa, which nests within a paraphyletic Neopanorpa van der Weele. Both parsimonious and Bayesian results suggest that Leptopanorpa can be divided into four subclades. We elucidated the evolutionary history of Leptopanorpa with regard to the paleogeological events of Sundaland and corroborated the multiple origins of elongated male abdomens in Panorpoidea. We also hypothesized that the ventral hook on the male abdominal sternum VI of L. linyejiei sp. n. is very likely used to control the female's abdomen during copulation.

A new genus of Panorpidae, Megapanorpa gen. nov., is erected for five new species, Megapanorpa grandis sp. nov. (type species), M. absens sp. nov., M. gaokaii sp. nov., M. jiangorum sp. nov. and M. wanghongjiani sp. nov. This genus is similar to Cerapanorpa Gao et al., 2016 in a single anal horn on the sixth tergum of male, but can be differentiated from the latter by the following characters: the seventh abdominal segment of male is constricted and stalk‐like at base, the subgenital plate of female with a pair of lateral plates, and the medigynium of female with a concealed axis. Keys to genera of Panorpidae and species of Megapanorpa gen. nov. are presented. The morphology and function of anal horns in different genera and species have been discussed.

Panorpa Linnaeus, 1758 is the largest genus in the scorpionfly family Panorpidae. Herein we describe two new species from eastern China, Panorpa jinhuaensissp. nov. from Jinhua, Zhejiang Province and Panorpa menqiuleiisp. nov. from Yuexi and Huoshan, Anhui Province. Panorpa wrightae Cheng, 1957 from Mount Mogan, Zhejiang Province is considered to be a junior subjective synonym of Panorpa mokansana Cheng, 1957 from the same locality. Panorpa mokansana Cheng, 1957 is redescribed and illustrated in detail. A key to species of Panorpa from eastern China is also provided.