Stoneflies
Though less prolific than mayflies and caddisflies, many stonefly species make up for in size what they lack in numbers. Because they emerge by crawling out of the water on land, the hatching adults are not eaten for trout, but their large nymphs are welcome food year-round. In the Western states, where stoneflies are most prolific, trout sometimes feed selectively on the egg-laying adults as they return to the water.
This common name refers to only one order.
Insect Order Plecoptera
These are pretty much always called Stoneflies.
Stoneflies are the largest but least important of the three main types of trout stream insects. They can cause outstanding fishing in certain places and times, especially in the West, but to most anglers they are significant only as handy nymphs to imitate when nothing much is hatching.
The best stoneflies for the angler are the gigantic Pteronarcys californica "Salmonflies" of western legend. The large Golden Stones of the Perlidae and Perlodidae families are more common across the country. The smaller Willowflies of Taeniopterygidae are sometimes the first dry-fly insects of the season, and the little yellow or green Chloroperlidae flies are a common sight throughout the summer.
The best stoneflies for the angler are the gigantic Pteronarcys californica "Salmonflies" of western legend. The large Golden Stones of the Perlidae and Perlodidae families are more common across the country. The smaller Willowflies of Taeniopterygidae are sometimes the first dry-fly insects of the season, and the little yellow or green Chloroperlidae flies are a common sight throughout the summer.
Arcynopteryx compacta Stonefly Nymph
View 11 PicturesThis large Perlodidae stonefly was a strikingly bright yellow color, moreso than any other insect I've seen. I didn't enhance it much. I tried identifying its genus and came up with Arcynopteryx, which lives a couple thousand miles from where I collected this one, so I'm stuck.
View 11 PicturesThis large Perlodidae stonefly was a strikingly bright yellow color, moreso than any other insect I've seen. I didn't enhance it much. I tried identifying its genus and came up with Arcynopteryx, which lives a couple thousand miles from where I collected this one, so I'm stuck.Region: Catskills
Collected Apr 19, 2006
Added Apr 22, 2006
Paragnetina media (Embossed Stonefly) Stonefly Larva
View 10 Pictures
View 10 PicturesRegion: Northeast
Collected Mar 30, 2007
Added Apr 2, 2007
Isoperla (Yellow Sallies) Stonefly Adult
View 14 PicturesA friend brought me this stonefly to photograph. He found it floating on the surface of a trout stream with its wings in a crippled position.
View 14 PicturesA friend brought me this stonefly to photograph. He found it floating on the surface of a trout stream with its wings in a crippled position.Region: Northeast
Collected May 5, 2006
Added May 22, 2006
See 55 more specimens...
New features!
