Capniidae

Guides

Allocapnia
winter stoneflies
Allocapnia is a genus of small winter stoneflies in the family Capniidae, comprising at least 40 described species. Adults emerge during winter months, typically from December through March. Nymphs inhabit stream substrates and exhibit vertical movement within the hyporheic zone, often retreating to deeper substrate during summer diapause and returning to surface layers in autumn.
Plecoptera Capniidae winter-stonefly univoltine diapause hyporheic benthic bioindicator North-America karst-streams emergent-aquatic-insect
Allocapnia maria
Two-knobbed Snowfly
Allocapnia maria, the two-knobbed snowfly, is a small winter stonefly in the family Capniidae. The species was described by Hanson in 1942 and occurs in eastern North America. Like other winter stoneflies, it is active during cold months when most other insects are dormant.
Plecoptera Capniidae winter-stonefly North-America cold-adapted aquatic-insect
Allocapnia nivicola
brook snowfly
Allocapnia nivicola is a small winter stonefly in the family Capniidae, commonly known as the brook snowfly. It is native to North America and has been documented across the eastern and midwestern United States. As a member of the winter stonefly group, it is active during cold months when most other insects are dormant. The species is one of approximately 40 described species in the genus Allocapnia.
winter-stonefly brook-snowfly North-America cold-adapted Capniidae Allocapnia
Allocapnia recta
Eastern Snowfly
Allocapnia recta, commonly known as the eastern snowfly, is a small winter stonefly in the family Capniidae. The species exhibits a univoltine slow-season life cycle with adult emergence occurring during January-February. It inhabits karst headwater streams, where it has been observed at higher densities in intermittent flow sections compared to permanent flow sections. The species is found in eastern North America.
Plecoptera Capniidae winter-stonefly karst-streams intermittent-streams univoltine
Allocapnia rickeri
Midwest Snowfly
Allocapnia rickeri is a small winter stonefly in the family Capniidae, commonly known as the Midwest Snowfly. It is one of numerous small, dark stoneflies in the genus Allocapnia that emerge during cold months when few other insects are active. The species has been documented across the central and eastern United States. Like other capniids, it is associated with clean, cold streams and is an important indicator of water quality.
winter-stonefly bioindicator coldwater Plecoptera Capniidae Allocapnia lotic emergence brachyptery aptery genitalia-identification Frison-1942 Midwest southeastern-US clean-water-indicator January-March small-stonefly wingless-female stream-insect shredder gatherer seasonal-resource water-quality aquatic-insect terrestrial-adult short-lived-adult oviposition submerged-eggs high-dissolved-oxygen low-temperature central-US eastern-US Alabama Arkansas Delaware Georgia Illinois hexapod hemimetabolous Euholognatha Nemouroidea Arctoperlaria Insecta Arthropoda Animalia GBIF Catalogue-of-Life iNaturalist NCBI taxonomy accepted-species 1942 Frison Ricker Midwest-Snowfly snowfly small-dark-stonefly clean-streams rivers well-oxygenated lotic-habitat cold-months winter-activity wing-reduction female-aptery male-flight epiproct paraproct terminalia taxonomic-revision congeners distribution-records observations 9-observations eukaryote metazoan arthropod insect stonefly winter-emerging January February March cold-weather near-freezing below-freezing water-surface submerged-substrates allochthonous-organic-material stream-ecosystems seasonal-food-resource insectivorous-birds predators scarce-prey unpolluted no-economic-importance stream-monitoring water-quality-indicator high-quality-coldwater microscopic-examination taxonomic-keys male-terminalia reliable-separation genitalic-examination overlapping-distribution similar-habitat small-size under-10-mm body-length reduced-wings absent-wings fully-developed-wings specific-identification published-descriptions illustrations subsequent-revisions characteristic family-Capniidae common-name extended-nymphal-period one-to-two-years short-lived does-not-feed aquatic-nymph clean-cold-streams low-temperatures year-round winter-months January-through-March family centered-Midwest extends-southeastern United-States documented appears most-reliably distinguished subtle-differences terminal-abdominal-structures should-be-compared against published subsequent genus-level characterized reduced absent females fully-developed males requires-examination male-genitalia structure paraprocts reliable separation overlaps similar many externally definitive relies microscopic examination comparison keys used biological indicator programs presence indicates cold conditions no-direct economic importance shredders gatherers processing allochthonous organic material stream ecosystems seasonal food resource insectivorous birds other when alternative prey scarce serves high-quality habitats development aquatic nymphal stages terrestrial adult stage nymphs develop streams extended period likely one two years based related species adults do-not feed active during weather air temperatures may near below freezing winged capable flight wingless short-winged remain water surface mating occur winter entering deposit eggs submerged substrates small commonly known numerous dark emerge few insects central eastern associated clean important under mm body length members genus wings possess fully developed specific identification level within requires male genitalia particularly most reliably subtle differences these terminal abdominal structures should compared descriptions taxonomic revisions winter-emerging maintain low high dissolved oxygen levels throughout year United States distribution centered extends southeastern months typically through this activity gives rise common name do not provides quality monitoring no direct habitat morphology size genitalic
Allocapnia vivipara
Shortwing Snowfly, short-wing snowfly
Allocapnia vivipara, commonly known as the shortwing snowfly, is a species of small winter stonefly in the family Capniidae. It is native to North America and has been recorded from multiple states in the central United States. The species was originally described as Capnella vivipara by Claassen in 1924 before being transferred to Allocapnia. As a winter stonefly, it belongs to a group adapted to cold-season activity.
winter-stonefly Plecoptera Capniidae North-America freshwater stream-insect
Bolshecapnia
small winter stoneflies
Bolshecapnia is a genus of small winter stoneflies in the family Capniidae, first described by Ricker in 1965 as a subgenus of Capnia and later elevated to genus rank. The genus currently comprises four species distributed in western North America. Members of this genus are adapted to cold-water environments and exhibit the characteristic winter-emergence pattern typical of Capniidae.
Plecoptera Capniidae winter-stoneflies western-North-America cold-water-insects
Capnia lineata
Straight Snowfly
Capnia lineata is a species of small winter stonefly in the family Capniidae. It is known from scattered records in western North America, including California and Idaho. As a member of the Capniidae, it belongs to a group commonly called "small winter stoneflies" or "snowflies" that are typically active during cold months. The species was described by Hanson in 1943. Very little detailed biological information has been published specifically for this species.
Plecoptera Capniidae stonefly snowfly winter-stonefly western-North-America Hanson-1943
Capnia promota
Pacific Snowfly
Capnia promota is a species of small winter stonefly in the family Capniidae. It is commonly known as the Pacific Snowfly due to its distribution along the Pacific coast of North America. The species was described by Frison in 1937. Like other Capniidae, it is active during the winter months when most other insects are dormant.
Plecoptera Capniidae winter-stonefly Pacific-coast Frison-1937
Capnia umpqua
Umpqua Snowfly
Capnia umpqua, commonly known as the Umpqua Snowfly, is a small winter stonefly species in the family Capniidae. It was described by Frison in 1942. The species occurs in western North America, with documented records from California and Oregon. As a member of the Capniidae, it belongs to a group of stoneflies adapted to cold-water environments and winter-emergence patterns.
winter-stonefly Capniidae Plecoptera North-America Oregon California Frison-1942
Capnura
small winter stoneflies
Capnura is a genus of small winter stoneflies in the family Capniidae, established by Banks in 1900. The genus contains approximately seven described species distributed primarily in North America. These stoneflies are part of the winter-emerging group of Plecoptera, with adults typically active during cold months when most other insects are inactive.
stonefly winter-stonefly Plecoptera Capniidae North-America cold-water stream-insect
Capnura manitoba
Manitoba snowfly
Capnura manitoba, commonly known as the Manitoba snowfly, is a small winter stonefly in the family Capniidae. It is one of several species in the genus Capnura, which are characterized by their cold-season activity patterns. The species was first described by Claassen in 1924 from Manitoba. Like other members of the Capniidae, it is adapted to cold-water environments and exhibits winter-emergence behavior typical of this stonefly family.
Plecoptera Capniidae winter-stonefly snowfly North-America Great-Lakes cold-water-insect
Eucapnopsis brevicauda
short-tailed snowfly
Eucapnopsis brevicauda is a small winter stonefly in the family Capniidae, commonly known as the short-tailed snowfly. It has a transpacific distribution spanning North America and eastern Asia, with confirmed records from Canada, the United States, Mongolia, Russia, and South Korea. Adults emerge during late winter to spring and are typically found in association with cold, running water in sub-montane stream habitats. The species was previously misidentified as E. quattuorsegmentata in Korean records.
winter-stonefly plecoptera capniidae transpacific cold-water spring-emergence
Eurekapnia maculata
Spotted Snowfly
Eurekapnia maculata is a species of winter stonefly in the family Capniidae, commonly known as the Spotted Snowfly. It belongs to a group of small stoneflies adapted to cold environments, with adults typically emerging during winter months when temperatures are near freezing. The species is native to North America and shares characteristics typical of the Capniidae family, including reduced wing venation and small body size.
Plecoptera Capniidae stonefly winter-stonefly North-America Spotted-Snowfly Eurekapnia aquatic-insect cold-adapted
Nemouroidea
Rolled-winged Stoneflies, Forest Stoneflies, Winter Stoneflies
Nemouroidea is a superfamily of stoneflies (Plecoptera) within the suborder Arctoperlaria, comprising five families: Capniidae (winter stoneflies), Taeniopterygidae, Nemouridae, Notonemouridae, and Leuctridae. These stoneflies are predominantly found in freshwater habitats across the Northern Hemisphere. The group includes notable cold-adapted species such as snow flies that emerge during winter months.
Plecoptera stoneflies freshwater bioindicator winter-emergence Capniidae Leuctridae Nemouridae Notonemouridae Taeniopterygidae Arctoperlaria Euholognatha
Paracapnia
small winter stoneflies
Paracapnia is a genus of small winter stoneflies in the family Capniidae, native to North America. The genus contains at least five described species, including the angulate snowfly (Paracapnia angulata) and the northeastern snowfly (Paracapnia opis). Members of this genus are notable for their tolerance of acidic stream conditions, with some species increasing in abundance in waters affected by acid precipitation.
Plecoptera Capniidae winter-stonefly acid-tolerance North-America stream-ecology bioindicator
Paracapnia angulata
angulate snowfly
Paracapnia angulata is a small winter stonefly in the family Capniidae. The species occurs in headwater streams across eastern North America, with documented populations in Appalachian streams affected by acid precipitation. Research indicates it tolerates a wide pH range (4.5–7.5) and can achieve high secondary production in acidic conditions due to increased abundance and biomass, despite lower individual growth rates. Nymphs serve as prey for steelhead trout.
Plecoptera Capniidae winter-stonefly acid-precipitation Appalachian-streams aquatic-insect acid-tolerance secondary-production steelhead-trout-prey
Paracapnia boris
Colusa Snowfly
Paracapnia boris is a species of winter stonefly in the family Capniidae, described by Stark & Baumann in 2004. It is known from California and is commonly referred to as the Colusa Snowfly. Like other capniids, it is likely active during cold months when few other insects are present. The species name honors someone named Boris, presumably a colleague or contributor to stonefly research.
Plecoptera Capniidae winter-stonefly California-endemic Nearctic
Paracapnia opis
Northeastern Snowfly
Paracapnia opis, the northeastern snowfly, is a small winter stonefly in the family Capniidae. It was the first species described in the genus Paracapnia, established by Edward Newman in 1839. The species is found in North America, with records from the northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. It is synonymous with Paracapnia curvata, described by Hanson in 1946.
stonefly winter-stonefly Plecoptera Capniidae North-America northeastern-United-States type-species
Utacapnia
small winter stoneflies
Utacapnia is a genus of small winter stoneflies in the family Capniidae. The genus contains approximately 11 described species, most of which were first described by entomologists Alan V. Nebeker and Arden R. Gaufin during the 1960s. Species in this genus are primarily distributed in the Rocky Mountains of North America. As winter stoneflies, members of this genus are active during cold months, a trait characteristic of the family Capniidae.
stonefly winter-stonefly Plecoptera Capniidae Rocky-Mountains cold-adapted freshwater
Utacapnia logana
Logan Snowfly
Utacapnia logana is a small winter-emerging stonefly in the family Capniidae, commonly known as the Logan Snowfly. It is native to the Rocky Mountain region of the western United States, where it inhabits cold, clean mountain streams. Adults emerge during winter months, a trait characteristic of the Capniidae family. The species was originally described as Capnia logana in 1965 before being transferred to the genus Utacapnia.
Plecoptera Capniidae winter-stonefly Rocky-Mountains Utah Colorado Wyoming New-Mexico cold-water montane lotic
Utacapnia trava
Yellowstone Snowfly
Utacapnia trava, commonly known as the Yellowstone snowfly, is a small winter stonefly in the family Capniidae. It is one of approximately 16 species in the genus Utacapnia, which is endemic to western North America. The species was originally described as Capnia trava in 1965 before being transferred to Utacapnia. Like other winter stoneflies, adults are active during cold months when most other insects are dormant.
stonefly winter-stonefly Capniidae Plecoptera North-America western-North-America cold-adapted