Madicolous
Guides
Acentrella
small minnow mayflies
Acentrella is a genus of small minnow mayflies in the family Baetidae. The genus contains at least 26 species distributed across Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa. Nymphs of at least some species inhabit cool, clean, swift rocky streams. Adult stages of several species remain undescribed due to the difficulty of rearing nymphs to maturity.
Acentrella nadineae
small minnow mayfly
Acentrella nadineae is a small minnow mayfly in the family Baetidae. The species was described in 2009 and remained known only from nymphs until successful rearing produced the first documented adults. It inhabits cool, clean, swift rocky streams across parts of the eastern and midwestern United States. Near final instar nymphs exhibit unusual madicolous behavior, living in thin water films on rock surfaces.
Caloparyphus
Caloparyphus is a genus of soldier flies (family Stratiomyidae) comprising approximately 12 described species. Species within this genus are associated with madicolous habitats—thin water films on rock surfaces—in eastern North America. The genus was established by James in 1939 and belongs to the tribe Oxycerini. Larval and adult stages have been described for at least some species.
Caloparyphus tetraspilus
Caloparyphus tetraspilus is a species of soldier fly in the family Stratiomyidae. It occurs in madicolous habitats—thin water films on rock surfaces—in eastern North America. The species was described by Loew in 1866 and is one of several Caloparyphus species adapted to this specialized aquatic microhabitat.
Dactylolabis
Dactylolabis is a genus of crane flies in the family Limoniidae, distinguished by its placement in the monotypic subfamily Dactylolabinae. The genus contains multiple species distributed across several subgenera. At least some species are known to be madicolous, inhabiting thin water films on rock surfaces in seepage areas. The genus was established by Osten Sacken in 1860.
Dactylolabis hudsonica
Dactylolabis hudsonica is a crane fly species in the family Limoniidae. It inhabits madicolous environments—thin water films on vertical or overhanging rock surfaces—in eastern North America. The species was described by Alexander in 1931. Its larval and pupal stages have been documented, and larvae can be distinguished from the related D. montana using morphological characters.
Dactylolabis montana
Dactylolabis montana is a species of limoniid crane fly inhabiting madicolous environments in eastern North America. The species develops in thin water films on rock surfaces, with distinct larval and pupal stages described. It occurs from Ontario and Newfoundland south to Kansas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, and South Carolina.
Elliptera
Elliptera is a genus of crane flies in the family Limoniidae, established by Schiner in 1863. The genus comprises ten described species distributed across the Holarctic region, including North America, Europe, and East Asia. Immature stages have been described for only a few species, with larvae inhabiting aquatic, hygropetric environments on wet rocks in mountainous areas.
Euparyphus
Euparyphus is a genus of soldier flies (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) in the tribe Oxycerini. Species in this genus are associated with madicolous habitats—thin water films on rock surfaces—in eastern North America. The genus contains approximately 30 described species distributed across the Americas, with adults and immature stages described for several North American species.
Euparyphus stigmaticalis
Euparyphus stigmaticalis is a species of soldier fly (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) described by Loew in 1866. It is known from eastern North America, where it occurs in specialized madicolous habitats—seepage areas on rock faces with thin films of flowing water. The species has been studied for its biology and immature stages, which are adapted to life in these thin water film environments.
Goera
Goera is a genus of caddisflies in the family Goeridae comprising at least 120 described species. Larvae construct portable cases, with documented species building cases from sand or inhabiting madicolous habitats on wet cliff faces. The genus serves as host for specialized parasitoid wasps.
Goeridae
Armour-ballast Caddisflies
Goeridae is a family of caddisflies (Trichoptera) comprising approximately 12 genera and at least 160 described species. Larvae are primarily lotic, inhabiting streams and rivers, with some species occupying madicolous habitats such as wet cliff faces. The family is distinguished by larval case construction incorporating ballast stones for weight and stability. Adults exhibit highly modified male genitalia and maxillary palps in some species. Goeridae has a Holarctic distribution with records from North America, Europe, and Asia.
Leucotrichiinae
Leucotrichiinae is a subfamily of microcaddisflies (Hydroptilidae) in the order Trichoptera. The subfamily includes genera such as Betrichia and Mejicanotrichia, distributed primarily in the Neotropical region. Diagnostic characteristics involve features of the antennae, wing venation, and male genitalia. Larvae of at least some genera are dorsoventrally flattened with numerous broad setae and inhabit high-flow aquatic environments.
Tanytarsini
Tanytarsini is a diverse tribe of non-biting midges (Chironomidae: Chironominae) comprising over 20 genera and approximately 1,000 described species. The tribe is divided into two subtribes: Tanytarsina and Zavreliina. Members occupy a wide range of aquatic habitats including freshwater lotic and lentic systems, hygropetric seepages, and marine intertidal zones. The genus Pontomyia represents truly marine chironomids within this tribe, with specialized life history adaptations including flightless, larviform females and short-lived non-feeding adults.
Thaumaleidae
solitary midges, trickle midges, madicolous midges
Thaumaleidae is a family of small nematoceran flies in the order Diptera, closely related to Ceratopogonidae, Chironomidae, and Simuliidae. Adults are non-feeding, stocky, yellow to brown flies measuring 3–4 mm, with short antennae no longer than the head. The family comprises approximately 202 extant species in seven genera (Afrothaumalea, Androprosopa, Austrothaumalea, Neothaumalea, Niphta, Thaumalea, Trichothaumalea) plus one fossil genus. Larvae inhabit thin water films on rock surfaces alongside waterfalls and torrents, where they graze on diatoms.