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The Specimen

Calineuria californica (Golden Stone) Stonefly AdultCalineuria californica (Golden Stone) Stonefly Adult View 15 PicturesA few of these larger stoneflies were fluttering around the South Fork on an evening dominated by much smaller species.

This one has been difficult to identify. I can't spot any of the gill remnants characteristic of Perlidae, but the wing venation (Venation: The pattern in which the veins on the wings of an insect are arranged. It is usually one of the most useful identifying characteristics.) seems to point in that direction. I tried keying it out as Perlodidae but arrived at Isoperla, every western species of which has significantly smaller bodies than this one.

Edit: See forum comments for a likely correct identification.
Collected July 20, 2019 from the South Fork Snoqualmie River in Washington
Added to Troutnut.com by on July 22, 2019

The Discussion

Post Reply
MillcreekJuly 22nd, 2019, 1:18 pm
Healdsburg, CA

Posts: 356		Hesperoperla or Calineuria. Just a guess. These are similar to ones I've netted in California. The gill remnants don't always show and can be difficult to spot when they do. The size is right and the wing veining as well.

Here's a picture at bugguide of Hesperoperla.

https://bugguide.net/node/view/1257709

I'm leaning more towards Calineuria.
https://www.zoology.ubc.ca/~biodiv/entomology/main/Plecoptera/Perlidae/Calineuria%20californica%20(1dorsal).jpg

And here's a view of Hesperoperla's wings.

https:/bugguide.net/node/view/41324/bgimage
TroutnutJuly 22nd, 2019, 3:24 pm
Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2737		Thanks. The color patterns at least looks extremely similar to this Calineuria californica from bugguide.net:

https://bugguide.net/node/view/368894/bgimage

I tried following the key in Merritt & Cummins to get there, but none of the relevant characteristics were very clear unfortunately.

What's the size range for that one? One source said they're the largest western Perlid, and this specimen certainly doesn't fit that bill.
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
MillcreekJuly 22nd, 2019, 4:26 pm
Healdsburg, CA

Posts: 356		The size range is from 15-25 mm from nose to tip of abdomen (not including the cerci). At least from this area of northern California.

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