Agnetina capitata

The Specimen

Agnetina capitata (Golden Stone) Stonefly Adult

View 8 PicturesThis stonefly emerged in my aquarium, and unfortunately I severely damaged its wings just trying to catch it. It's still an interesting specimen, especially since I was able to also photograph the nymphal shuck (

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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.) it emerged from. I was surprised by just how light it was shortly after emerging. I photographed it a couple days later when it had darkened considerably; it was a pale, almost pastel yellow at first.

Collected May 1, 2007 from Aquarium in New York
Added to Troutnut.com by on May 3, 2007

The Discussion

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DOS	March 28th, 2009, 10:27 pm
Buffalo, NY Posts: 64	I had plans to meet a few friends tonight at a local sports bar to watch the UFC fights, but as I got out of the shower, I found that a industrious capitata had hatched in my aquarium and managed to escape its mesh canopy and was mockingly buzzing the lights in my steamy bathroom. Well, several hours later and a six pack of Saranac Black and Tan, I'm still at home and have a question. On page 37 of Schwibert's Nymphs Volume II, he diagnoses the adult at 28mm. My specimen falls more than 10mm short. Is it possible I have misidentified this specimen or is it a simple case of size variation?
	Andrew Nisbet

DOS	March 28th, 2009, 10:46 pm
Buffalo, NY Posts: 64	ohhh ooooo with one more beer in me I have surmised that his measurements were from tip of antane to tip of caudal cerci.... might this be correct?? .... if that is the case my specimen is only about 2mm short
	Andrew Nisbet

Taxon	March 28th, 2009, 11:54 pm
Site Editor Mercer Island, WA Posts: 921	Andrew- American Stoneflies: A Photographic Guide to the Plecoptera by Stark, Szezytko, and Nelson lists the length range of the (3) species of adult Agnetina as being (.7 – 1.3) in., which is (17.78 – 33.02) mm. Your specimen appears to be approximately 16.5 mm. I suspect that your aquarium environment delivered the degree days necessary for emergence in fewer calendar days than would have occurred in the nymph’s natural environment, and may therefore have somewhat reduced the adult length your specimen achieved.
	Roger Rohrbeck www.FlyfishingEntomology.com

DOS	March 29th, 2009, 3:21 am
Buffalo, NY Posts: 64	Ahh thank you Roger, That is the information I was looking for. I need to be more aware of the influence my aquarium has.
	Andrew Nisbet

GONZO	March 29th, 2009, 7:06 am
Site Editor "Bear Swamp," PA Posts: 1636	Drew, Agnetina capitata typically emerges in late May through June in much of our area. As Roger suggests, the warmer temperatures of your aquarium accelerated emergence. (Notice that Jason's specimen also emerged early from his aquarium and is very close to the size of your specimen.) In addition, male stoneflies can be as much as 30% smaller than females. Male Agnetina adults have a very conspicuous pair of genital hooks extending from the rear on the dorsal side of the abdomen to the front of abdominal segment 8. You might want to check the gender of your specimen. (Cf. the third and fifth photos here: http://www.troutnut.com/specimen/685)

DOS	March 29th, 2009, 11:40 am
Buffalo, NY Posts: 64	Hey now Lloyd, right on the money as usual... I just happened to keep the specimen around. After a little wing dissection and a quick look under the stereo scope, I propped him up for a second photo shoot. Sure enough, genital hooks galore! Also, as I was cleaning the aquarium today I found his brittle, vacant exoskeleton stuck to the backside of the filter where he sneakily thwarted my mesh canopy. Thanks again Roger and Lloyd, the little tid-bits of information you shared with me are invaluable and I could not find in the several sources I checked.
	Andrew Nisbet

GONZO	March 29th, 2009, 12:14 pm
Site Editor "Bear Swamp," PA Posts: 1636	Great photos, Drew!

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