Insect Order Plecoptera (Stoneflies)

Mayflies Caddisflies Stoneflies

Taxonomic Navigation -?-

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

» Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

» Class Insecta (Insects)

» Order Plecoptera (Stoneflies)

Family in Plecoptera
CapniidaeSnowflies	10	25
ChloroperlidaeSallflies	24	98
LeuctridaeNeedleflies	4	8
NemouridaeForestflies	6	22
PeltoperlidaeRoachflies	5	20
PerlidaeGolden Stones	37	223
PerlodidaeSpringflies and Yellow Stones	25	137
PteronarcyidaeSalmonflies	13	124
TaeniopterygidaeWillowflies	15	52

1 family

(Peltoperlidae)

isn't included.

Common Name

Match	Common Name
	Stoneflies

This is page 3 of specimens of Plecoptera. Visit the main Plecoptera page for:

• The behavior and habitat of Plecoptera.
• 6 underwater pictures of Plecoptera.
• 1 streamside picture of Plecoptera.

Pictures of 141 Stonefly Specimens:

Specimen Page:1234...15

Male Pteronarcys californica (Giant Salmonfly) Stonefly Adult View 16 Pictures

Collected July 2, 2019 from the Gallatin River in Montana
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on July 18, 2019

Female Pteronarcys californica (Giant Salmonfly) Stonefly Adult View 13 Pictures

Collected June 30, 2019 from the Madison River in Montana
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on July 17, 2019

Paragnetina (Golden Stones) Stonefly Adult View 10 PicturesUnfortunately I forgot to photograph this one next to the ruler, but I seem to remember it being on the small side for a Perlid, maybe around 2cm.

Collected May 6, 2007 from Aquarium in New York
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on May 18, 2007

Female Amphinemura (Tiny Winter Blacks) Stonefly Adult View 5 PicturesA few of these tiny stoneflies were among the only species of aquatic insect adults in the air on this particular afternoon, with most of the action coming from a species of Epeorus mayfly. I somehow forgot to photograph this one on the usual ruler, but I recall it was very, very small, with an abdomen no more than 1mm in girth and the body, not counting the wings, probably just 5-7mm long.

Collected September 6, 2006 from Mystery Creek #23 in New York
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on October 3, 2006

Female Hesperoperla pacifica (Golden Stone) Stonefly Adult View 13 PicturesMy blurry photo at first makes it look like there might be a distinct notch in the subgenital plate of this specimen, but that's not the case -- just a poor photo. That's important to the ID.

Collected July 2, 2019 from the Gallatin River in Montana
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on July 18, 2019

Sweltsa onkos (Sallfly) Stonefly Adult View 8 PicturesI'm just guessing this is Chloroperlidae, since it's little and yellow. If anyone has a less haphazard identification, feel free to post it.

Collected May 15, 2007 from Mystery Creek #62 in New York
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on May 18, 2007

Alloperla (Sallflies) Stonefly Adult View 6 PicturesThis specimen was completely green when I collected it from among many others gathered on a midstream rock along with their nymphal shucks (

View Full Size

Here's an underwater view of the pupal shucks of several already-emerged Brachycentrus numerosus caddisflies.

Shuck: The shed exoskeleton left over when an insect molts into its next stage or instar. Most often it describes the last nymphal or pupal skin exited during emergence into a winged adult.) early in the morning. There was also a yellow one with them, which I assumed was a different species. Now that I've seen how this one started changing from green to yellow, I have to wonder if they weren't the same species and the yellow one was just older.

Collected May 29, 2007 from Brodhead Creek in Pennsylvania
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on June 4, 2007

Pteronarcys dorsata (Giant Black Stonefly) Stonefly Nymph View 8 Pictures

Collected February 7, 2004 from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on January 25, 2006

Pteronarcys dorsata (Giant Black Stonefly) Stonefly Nymph View 7 Pictures

Collected January 13, 2004 from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on January 25, 2006

Paragnetina media (Embossed Stonefly) Stonefly Larva View 10 Pictures

Collected March 30, 2007 from Fall Creek in New York
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on April 2, 2007

Specimen Page:1234...15

Jargon Defined:

Abdomen: The rear and usually the longest (ten-segmented in mayflies) portion of an insect's body, to which the tails are attached.

View Full Size

Here's an underwater view of the pupal shucks of several already-emerged Brachycentrus numerosus caddisflies.

Shucks: The shed exoskeleton left over when an insect molts into its next stage or instar. Most often it describes the last nymphal or pupal skin exited during emergence into a winged adult.

Useful References: