Capnura

Members of Capnura can be distinguished from other Capniidae genera by genitalic characters, particularly male paraproct and epiproct morphology. Species-level identification requires examination of these structures. The genus is characterized by small body size typical of the family.

Associated with cold, clean running waters where larvae develop. Adults emerge and are active during winter conditions.

North America. Documented from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, and Idaho based on collection records.

Winter-emerging stoneflies; adults active during cold months, typically November through March depending on species and latitude.

Hemimetabolous development with aquatic larval stages and terrestrial adults. Larvae inhabit streams, completing development before winter emergence.

Aquatic larvae serve as shredders and collectors in stream ecosystems, processing organic matter. Adults are non-feeding and primarily reproductive. Both life stages provide food for predators in seasonally asynchronous food webs.

• CapniaAnother genus of small winter stoneflies in Capniidae; distinguished by genitalic morphology, particularly differences in male claspers and epiproct structure
• EucapnopsisOverlapping distribution and seasonality; Capnura species generally smaller with distinct wing venation patterns and genitalic differences

• stonefly
• winter stonefly
• Plecoptera
• Capniidae
• North America
• cold-water
• stream insect

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life