Stonefly

Pronunciation: /STOHN-fly/

Category: Taxonomy

Singular: Stonefly

Plural: Stoneflies

Definition

A type of aquatic insect belonging to the order Plecoptera, found in clean, fast-flowing streams and rivers. They are indicators of good water quality.

Etymology

The name 'stonefly' comes from their habitat preference, as they are often found in streams with stony substrates.

Example

Stonefly nymphs are commonly used by biologists as bioindicators to assess the health of freshwater ecosystems.

Synonyms

Plecoptera

Related Terms

Nymph
Aquatic
Bioindicator
Freshwater

Usage Notes

Stoneflies have two main life stages: the aquatic nymph stage and the terrestrial adult stage.