Stonefly Family Peltoperlidae (Roachflies)

Mayflies

Caddisflies

Stoneflies

Taxonomic Navigation -?-

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

» Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

» Class Insecta (Insects)

» Order Plecoptera (Stoneflies)

» Family Peltoperlidae (Roachflies)

Genus in Peltoperlidae
TallaperlaRoachflies	2	13

5 genera aren't included.

Common Name

Match	Common Name
	Roachflies

Pictures Below ↓

These stoneflies, known for their roach-like shape, are not really mentioned in books about angling. They are a major component of the invertebrate fauna in a few streams, which are presumably few and far between. Since their robust shape is so distinct, I speculate that a special nymph pattern would pay off on the rare waters where they are major insects.

3 Stonefly Specimens in the Family Peltoperlidae:

Peltoperlidae (Roachflies) Stonefly Adult

View 5 PicturesThe adult stoneflies of this family look surprisingly normal given the strange shape of the nymphs.

Region: Poconos

Collected May 28, 2007

Added Jun 4, 2007

Tallaperla (Roachflies) Stonefly Nymph

View 6 PicturesThis is the first specimen of the Peltoperlidae stonefly family that I've collected. It's very small and probably an early instar (Instar: Many invertebrates molt through dozens of progressively larger and better-developed stages as they grow. Each of these stages is known as an instar. Hard-bodied nymphs typically molt through more instars than soft-bodied larvae.), but I'm not choosy about new bugs.

Region: Catskills

Collected Apr 19, 2006

Added Apr 22, 2006

Tallaperla (Roachflies) Stonefly Nymph

View 7 Pictures

Region: Northeast

Collected Apr 1, 2007

Added Apr 3, 2007

5 Streamside Pictures of Peltoperlidae Stoneflies:

Streamside Photo Page:12

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This rock includes several empty Peltoperlid shucks (

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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.).

In this picture: Stonefly Family Peltoperlidae (Roachflies).

RegionPoconos

Date TakenMay 28, 2007

Date AddedJun 5, 2007

CameraPentax Optio WPI

View Full Size (2.7X larger)

This Peltoperlid stonefly (roachfly) was crawling around on this rock looking for a comfortable place to emerge.

In this picture: Stonefly Family Peltoperlidae (Roachflies).

RegionPoconos

Date TakenMay 28, 2007

Date AddedJun 5, 2007

CameraPentax Optio WPI

View Full Size (2.7X larger)

This Peltoperlid stonefly (roachfly) was crawling around on this rock looking for a comfortable place to emerge.

In this picture: Stonefly Family Peltoperlidae (Roachflies).

RegionPoconos

Date TakenMay 28, 2007

Date AddedJun 5, 2007

CameraPentax Optio WPI

Streamside Photo Page:12

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Jargon Defined:

Instar: Many invertebrates molt through dozens of progressively larger and better-developed stages as they grow. Each of these stages is known as an instar. Hard-bodied nymphs typically molt through more instars than soft-bodied larvae.

Nymph: The juvenile, underwater stages of mayflies, stoneflies, dragonflies, and damselflies and other aquatic insects whose juvenile stages are covered by hard exoskeletons. The word can also refer to the fishing flies which imitate these creatures, in which case it is used as a blanket term for flies imitating any underwater stage of an invertebrate (except for crayfish and leeches).

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.