Acroneuria

Pictet, 1841

common stoneflies

Species Guides

Acroneuria abnormis(Common Stone)
Acroneuria arenosa(Eastern Stone)
Acroneuria carolinensis(Carolina Stone)
Acroneuria evoluta(Constricted Stone)
Acroneuria lycorias(Boreal Stonefly)

Acroneuria is a of large-bodied stoneflies in the Perlidae, containing more than 30 described distributed across North America and Asia. Nymphs are predatory and inhabit streams and rivers, where they serve as important bioindicators of water quality. are known for distinctive , including arboreal emergence in some species. Several species in the genus are experiencing range contractions and declines due to degradation and climate change.

Acroneuria abnormis by no rights reserved, uploaded by nmacelko2. Used under a CC0 license.

Acroneuria by (c) Dave Huth, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Common stonefly, Acroneuria abnormis (9967485996) by Bob Henricks from Charlottesville, United States. Used under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Acroneuria: //ˌækroʊˈnjʊriə//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Acroneuria are diagnosed by wing pattern, aedeagal structure, and shape of the female subgenital plate. The is characterized by large body size relative to other perlid genera. Species-level identification requires examination of male genitalia and female subgenital plate .

Images

Habitat

Nymphs inhabit lotic freshwater systems including streams and rivers. Some exhibit arboreal in coniferous forest .

Distribution

North America (including Midwest USA: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin; West Virginia; California; northern Wisconsin; northern Michigan) and Asia (central Vietnam, China including Hainan and South-central regions).

Diet

Nymphs are predatory. Specific prey items are not documented in available sources.

Life Cycle

Multivoltine have been reported for some . Nymphs emerge at heights up to 12m on tree branches in arboreal . Post-, climb upward along tree stems to heights up to 22m.

Behavior

Nymphs exhibit behavioral responses to exposure including methoxychlor and fenitrothion. show strong preference for sites at the underside or base of branches. Post-emergence climbing to heights represents the greatest documented heights for any Plecopteran .

Ecological Role

Predatory nymphs function as macroinvertebrate in stream . The serves as a bioindicator of water quality, with impaired associated with aluminum in neutral pH surface waters.

Human Relevance

Used as bioindicators for water quality assessment and environmental . are increasingly imperiled due to human disturbance. Subject of toxicological research examining effects on aquatic .

Similar Taxa

CalineuriaAcroneuria (Calineuria) californica was historically classified under Acroneuria but has been separated; similar large-bodied perlid
Other Perlidae generaAcroneuria distinguished by specific wing patterns and genitalic structures; other perlids generally smaller-bodied or with different

More Details

Conservation Status

Regional faunal assessments indicate increasing imperilment from human disturbance and climate change. Large-bodied perlid stoneflies with multivoltine are among the most at risk for regional extirpation. distribution modeling shows suitable losses greatest for A. abnormis and A. internata.

Research Importance

A. lycorias has been extensively studied for production and growth comparisons between hard- and soft-water streams, with production 5.0 times greater in hard-water . Growth rates are influenced more by indirect physical, biological, or habitat factors than by streamwater cation concentrations.