Plecoptera
Guides
Isoperla davisi
Alabama stripetail
Isoperla davisi, commonly known as the Alabama stripetail, is a species of green-winged stonefly in the family Perlodidae. The species was described by James in 1974 and is native to North America, with recorded occurrences in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, and Louisiana. Like other members of the genus Isoperla, it belongs to the subfamily Isoperlinae within the stonefly order Plecoptera.
Isoperla dicala
Sable Stripetail
Isoperla dicala, commonly known as the sable stripetail, is a species of green-winged stonefly in the family Perlodidae. It was described by Frison in 1942. The species is found in eastern North America, with documented occurrences in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, and Georgia. As a member of the order Plecoptera, it is associated with freshwater environments.
Isoperla lata
Dark Stripetail
Isoperla lata, commonly known as the dark stripetail, is a green-winged stonefly in the family Perlodidae. It is native to North America with documented populations in Labrador, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Minnesota. The species inhabits cold-water trout streams where it functions as a predator on other aquatic insects. Research from Wisconsin indicates a slow univoltine life cycle with synchronous spring emergence and temperature-dependent egg development.
Isoperla marmorata
red stripetail
Isoperla marmorata, commonly known as the red stripetail, is a species of green-winged stonefly in the family Perlodidae. It was described by Needham and Claassen in 1925. The species is found in western North America, with documented occurrences in California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. Like other perlodid stoneflies, it belongs to the order Plecoptera, an ancient group of aquatic insects with incomplete metamorphosis.
Isoperla namata
Ozark stripetail
Isoperla namata, commonly known as the Ozark stripetail, is a species of green-winged stonefly in the family Perlodidae. It was described by Frison in 1942. The species is found in North America, with distribution records from Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Missouri.
Isoperla orata
Colorless Stripetail
Isoperla orata, known as the colorless stripetail, is a species of green-winged stonefly in the family Perlodidae. It was described by Frison in 1942. The species has been recorded from scattered locations in eastern and central North America including Connecticut, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, and New Brunswick. As a member of the genus Isoperla, it belongs to a group of predatory stoneflies commonly referred to as stripetails.
Isoperla pinta
Checkered Stripetail
Isoperla pinta, commonly known as the checkered stripetail, is a species of green-winged stonefly in the family Perlodidae. It was described by Frison in 1937. The species is found in North America, with distribution records from Alberta, British Columbia, California, Colorado, and Idaho. As a member of the order Plecoptera, it is an aquatic insect with nymphal stages occurring in freshwater environments.
Isoperla richardsoni
Sterling Stripetail
Isoperla richardsoni, commonly known as the sterling stripetail, is a species of green-winged stonefly in the family Perlodidae. It was described by Frison in 1935. The species is found in North America, with records from Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Kentucky.
Isoperla signata
transverse stripetail
Isoperla signata, commonly known as the transverse stripetail, is a species of green-winged stonefly in the family Perlodidae. It has been documented in North America, with specific life cycle studies conducted in Central Wisconsin trout streams. The species belongs to the order Plecoptera, which comprises aquatic insects commonly known as stoneflies.
Isoperla similis
Black Stripetail
Isoperla similis, commonly known as the black stripetail, is a species of green-winged stonefly in the family Perlodidae. First described by Hagen in 1861, this stonefly is found in North America, with confirmed distribution records from Connecticut, Delaware, Kentucky, Maine, and Massachusetts. As a member of the order Plecoptera, it belongs to a group of aquatic insects whose nymphal stages develop in freshwater environments.
Isoperla sobria
Colorado Stripetail
Isoperla sobria is a species of stonefly in the family Perlodidae, commonly known as the Colorado Stripetail. It is a member of the genus Isoperla, which comprises numerous small to medium-sized predatory stoneflies found in running waters of the Northern Hemisphere. The species has been documented across western North America from Alaska to California. Like other perlodids, its larvae develop in freshwater streams and are indicators of good water quality.
Isoperlinae
Stripetail Stoneflies, Springflies
Isoperlinae is a subfamily of stoneflies in the family Perlodidae, distributed across the Palaearctic and Nearctic regions. Members are commonly known as stripetails or springflies. The subfamily includes approximately 12 genera, with Isoperla being the most speciose and well-known. These stoneflies are aquatic insects whose nymphs inhabit running waters.
Kathroperla takhoma
Slenderhead Sallfly
Kathroperla takhoma is a species of stonefly in the family Kathroperlidae, commonly known as the slenderhead sallfly. It was described by Stark & Surdick in 1987. The species is part of the green stonefly group within the order Plecoptera. It has been documented in western North America, with records from California and Washington.
Leuctra duplicata
Atlantic Needlefly
Leuctra duplicata, known as the Atlantic needlefly, is a rolled-winged stonefly in the family Leuctridae. It is a univoltine species with a life cycle adapted to intermittent streams. Adults emerge in mid-to-late May over a 3-4 week period. The species has been recorded from northeastern North America, with notable rarity in some parts of its range.
Leuctra ferruginea
Eastern Needlefly
Leuctra ferruginea, commonly known as the eastern needlefly, is a species of rolled-winged stonefly in the family Leuctridae. It is found in North America, with distribution records from the eastern and southeastern United States including Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee. As a member of the order Plecoptera, it is associated with aquatic habitats during its immature stages.
Leuctra laura
Hampshire needlefly
Leuctra laura, commonly known as the Hampshire needlefly, is a species of rolled-winged stonefly in the family Leuctridae. It was described by Hitchcock in 1969. The species is known from the northeastern United States, specifically New Hampshire and Vermont. As a member of Plecoptera, it is an aquatic insect whose immature stages develop in freshwater environments.
Leuctra truncata
Truncate Needlefly
Leuctra truncata, known as the truncate needlefly, is a species of rolled-winged stonefly in the family Leuctridae. The species was described by Claassen in 1923 and is distributed in eastern North America, with records from Connecticut, Maine, Newfoundland, New York, and Pennsylvania. As a member of Plecoptera, it has aquatic immature stages and terrestrial adults.
Leuctra variabilis
variable needlefly
Leuctra variabilis, known as the variable needlefly, is a species of rolled-winged stonefly in the family Leuctridae. It was described by Hanson in 1941. The species is found in eastern North America, with records from Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, and New Jersey.
Leuctridae
rolled-winged stoneflies, needleflies
Leuctridae is a family of stoneflies (Plecoptera) containing at least 390 species. Adults are small, typically 5–13 mm in length, with slender cylindrical wings that wrap around the body at rest, giving the family its common name. The family has a primarily Holarctic distribution with significant diversity in China, Europe, and North America. Larvae develop in freshwater habitats, with some species exhibiting unusual life cycles involving brackish water or coastal areas.
Leuctrinae
Leuctrinae is a subfamily of stoneflies (order Plecoptera) within the family Leuctridae. Members of this group are small to medium-sized stoneflies commonly known as 'rolled-winged stoneflies' due to their distinctive wing posture at rest. The subfamily was established by Klapálek in 1905 and represents one of the major lineages within the Nemouroidea superfamily. Leuctrinae species are primarily associated with cool, clean running waters and are widely distributed across the Holarctic region.
Malenka
Malenka is a genus of small stoneflies in the family Nemouridae, first described by Ricker in 1952. These insects belong to the suborder Arctoperlaria and are part of the diverse stonefly fauna of North America. Members of this genus are associated with freshwater habitats and are characterized by features typical of the Nemouridae family.
Malirekus hastatus
Brook Springfly
Malirekus hastatus, commonly known as the brook springfly, is a species of stonefly in the family Perlodidae. First described by Banks in 1920 under the name Isogenus hastatus, this species is native to eastern North America. It belongs to the order Plecoptera, a group of aquatic insects commonly known as stoneflies or springflies.
Malirekus iroquois
Iroquois Springfly
Malirekus iroquois is a species of springfly in the family Perlodidae, described by Stark and Szczytko in 1988. It belongs to the order Plecoptera, an ancient group of aquatic insects commonly known as stoneflies or springflies. The species is known from a limited number of observations and has a documented distribution in the eastern United States and southeastern Canada.
Megaleuctra
needleflies
Megaleuctra is a genus of rolled-winged stoneflies in the family Leuctridae, established by Neave in 1934. The genus comprises approximately seven described species, including the Pacific needlefly (M. complicata). Species are distributed across western North America and Korea. The genus belongs to the subfamily Megaleuctrinae within the Leuctridae family.
Megarcys
springflies
Megarcys is a genus of springflies in the family Perlodidae, comprising approximately 11 described species. The genus was established by Klapálek in 1912. Species occur primarily in cold-water habitats across northern regions of North America and Asia. Megarcys belongs to the tribe Arcynopterygini within the subfamily Perlodinae.
Nemoura trispinosa
Nemoura trispinosa is a stonefly species described by Claassen in 1923, currently treated as a synonym of Nemoura arctica. It belongs to the family Nemouridae, a group of small, generally cold-adapted stoneflies. The species was described from North American material and has been recorded across boreal and arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere. As a synonym, its biological characteristics are subsumed under the senior name Nemoura arctica.
Nemouridae
spring stoneflies, brown stoneflies, forestflies, tiny winter blacks
Nemouridae is a family of stoneflies (Plecoptera) comprising over 700 described species, primarily distributed in the Holarctic region. Members are commonly known as spring stoneflies, brown stoneflies, or forestflies, and are important indicators of water quality in aquatic ecosystems. The family is characterized by small size, with adults typically measuring 5–8 millimeters in body length. Nemouridae occupy diverse flowing-water habitats, though they are most prevalent in smaller streams.
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.
Neoperla clymene
Coastal Stone
Neoperla clymene, commonly known as the coastal stone, is a stonefly species in the family Perlidae. It occurs in eastern North America, with documented records from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, and Indiana. Like other perlid stoneflies, it inhabits freshwater environments where its larvae develop.
Neoperla coosa
Coosa stone
Neoperla coosa, commonly known as the Coosa stone, is a species of common stonefly in the family Perlidae. It was described by Smith & Stark in 1998. The species is found in North America, with distribution records from Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, North Carolina, and New York. As a member of the Perlidae family, it belongs to a group of predatory stoneflies often associated with clean, flowing freshwater habitats.
Oemopteryx
winter stoneflies, willowflies
Oemopteryx is a genus of winter stoneflies in the family Taeniopterygidae, established by Klapálek in 1902. The genus comprises approximately six described species distributed primarily in the Nearctic region, with some records from Europe. Species are commonly known as willowflies, including the dark willowfly (O. contorta) and Canadian willowfly (O. glacialis). Recent taxonomic work has described additional Nearctic species from the southeastern United States using integrated morphological and molecular data.
Oemopteryx contorta
Dark Willowfly
Oemopteryx contorta, commonly known as the dark willowfly, is a species of winter stonefly in the family Taeniopterygidae. The species was described by Needham and Claassen in 1925. It is native to North America, with documented records from Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, and Maine. As a member of the order Plecoptera, it belongs to a group of aquatic insects whose nymphal stages develop in freshwater environments.
Oemopteryx glacialis
Canadian willowfly
Oemopteryx glacialis, commonly known as the Canadian willowfly, is a winter stonefly species in the family Taeniopterygidae. It is one of several North American stoneflies adapted to cold-weather activity, with adults emerging during winter months when most other insects are inactive. The species has been recorded from the northeastern United States and adjacent Canada, including Connecticut, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, and Ontario.
Oroperla
Oroperla is a genus of stoneflies in the family Perlodidae, established by Needham in 1933. Members of this genus are classified within the tribe Arcynopterygini and are part of the diverse Systellognatha infraorder. The genus is documented from western North America, specifically California and Nevada. As a perlodid stonefly, it likely inhabits cool, flowing freshwater systems typical of the family.
Oroperla barbara
Gilltail Springfly
Oroperla barbara is a stonefly species in the family Perlodidae, first described by Needham in 1933. It is commonly known as the Gilltail Springfly. The species is recorded from California and Nevada in western North America. As a member of the order Plecoptera, it belongs to an ancient group of aquatic insects with gilled immature stages and terrestrial adults.
Osobenus yakimae
Yakima Springfly
Osobenus yakimae is a species of stonefly in the family Perlodidae, commonly known as the Yakima Springfly. It is distributed across the Pacific Northwest of North America, with records from British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California. As a member of the order Plecoptera, it is an aquatic insect with nymphal stages developing in freshwater habitats. The species was first described by Hoppe in 1938.
Ostrocerca
forestflies
Ostrocerca is a genus of spring stoneflies (Plecoptera) in the family Nemouridae, containing six described species distributed in eastern North America. Members are small to medium-sized stoneflies commonly known as forestflies. The genus was established by Ricker in 1952. Species are distinguished by subtle morphological differences in wing venation and genitalia.
Ostrocerca albidipennis
white-tailed forestfly, whitetailed forestfly
Ostrocerca albidipennis, commonly called the white-tailed forestfly, is a species of spring stonefly in the family Nemouridae. It was originally described as Nemoura albidipennis by Walker in 1852. The species is found in eastern North America, with records from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Maryland. As a member of the Nemouridae family, it belongs to the group of small stoneflies commonly known as forestflies.
Ostrocerca complexa
Notched Forestfly
Ostrocerca complexa, commonly known as the notched forestfly, is a species of spring stonefly in the family Nemouridae. First described by Claassen in 1937 as Nemoura complexa, it is now placed in the genus Ostrocerca. It occurs in eastern North America, with documented records from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.
Ostrocerca truncata
Truncate Forestfly
Ostrocerca truncata, commonly known as the truncate forestfly, is a species of spring stonefly in the family Nemouridae. Originally described as Nemoura truncata by Claassen in 1923, it is one of approximately 50 species in the genus Ostrocerca. The species is found in eastern North America, with records from Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, and other states. Like other Nemouridae, it is associated with cool, clean streams and emerges in spring.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Paragnetina media
embossed stonefly, Embossed Stone
Paragnetina media, commonly known as the embossed stonefly, is a predaceous stonefly species in the family Perlidae. It is found in North America, with documented populations in Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, and Indiana. The species has been studied for its sensory morphology, particularly the distribution of sensilla on mouthparts and antennae, and its ecological responses to habitat variables including current speed and substrate composition.
Paraleuctra sara
Appalachian needlefly
Paraleuctra sara, commonly known as the Appalachian needlefly, is a species of rolled-winged stonefly in the family Leuctridae. It was first described by Claassen in 1937. The species is found in eastern North America, with documented records from Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, and Indiana. As a member of the Leuctridae family, it belongs to a group of stoneflies characterized by their distinctive wing posture at rest.
Paraleuctra vershina
summit needlefly
Paraleuctra vershina, commonly known as the summit needlefly, is a species of rolled-winged stonefly in the family Leuctridae. It was described by Gaufin & Ricker in 1974. The species is distributed across western North America, with records from Alaska through western Canada to California and Colorado. As a member of the Leuctridae, it is characterized by wings that roll tightly around the body when at rest.
Paranemoura perfecta
spotted forestfly
Paranemoura perfecta, commonly known as the spotted forestfly, is a species of spring stonefly in the family Nemouridae. It was first described by Walker in 1852 under the basionym Nemoura perfecta. The species is found in eastern North America, with documented records from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Maryland. As a member of the Nemouridae, it belongs to the group of spring stoneflies characterized by small size and cold-water habitat associations.
Paraperlinae
Paraperlinae is a subfamily of stoneflies within Chloroperlidae, established by Ricker in 1943. Members of this subfamily are part of the green stonefly group, characterized by their placement in the family Chloroperlidae alongside other subfamilies. The subfamily is classified within the suborder Systellognatha, indicating relationships to predatory stonefly lineages.
Peltoperla
Peltoperla is a genus of stoneflies in the family Peltoperlidae, found in Appalachian headwater streams of eastern North America. Species in this genus have semivoltine life cycles, typically developing over two years with egg diapause periods of approximately six months. Nymphs are strongly associated with leaf pack habitats in small forested streams. The genus exhibits 'leaky' cohort dynamics, where some individuals complete development in one year while others take two years, resulting in overlapping generations and high gene flow among cohorts.