INTRODUCTION
Stoneflies
(Plecoptera)
are
aquatic
insects
that
are
species-rich
in
temperate,mountain
streams.Approximately3900extant,validspeciesareclassifiedinto17families
worldwide.InNorthAmerica(includingMexico),thenumberofextantspeciesisjust
over770.Plecopteraspeciesexhibitarangeofsensitivitiestowaterandhabitatquality
changesandthismakesthemusefulasindicatorsofwaterquality.
Plecopteraspeciesacrossmuchoftheworldarethoughttobeimperiledbyhuman
activityandclimatechange.Tosurviveclimatechangethroughtheendofthe 21stcentury,sto
nefliesmaybeforcedtoundergodramaticrangeshifts,assuggestedbymodelingof
genericdistributionsinNorthAmerica.
Origine
Greek Origins of Name: Plecoptera, derived from the Greek “pleco” meaning folded and
“ptera” meaning wing, refers to the pleated hind wings which fold under the front wings
when the insect is at rest.
General characteristics
Moderate-sized to fairly large soft-bodied insects; head with long setaceous antennae, weak
mandibulate mouthparts, well-developed compound eyes and two or three ocelli; thorax
almost always with two pairs of membranous wings (sometimes reduced), hind pair in most
species with a large anal lobe, venation frequently specialized, legs identical and with a threesegmented tarsus; abdomen of most species terminated by long multiannulate cerci, females
lacking a true vipositor, males without gonostyles and phallic organs on abdominal segment
9.
Larvae aquatic, generally resembling adults except for presence of a varied number of
tracheal gills.
described, including just over 600 from North America, about 30 from Britain, and 200 from
Australia. Though the order has representatives on all continents except Antarctica, most
families have a rather restricted distribution.
Life Cycle
Habits
Adult stoneflies are weak flyers and seldom found far from the banks of streams or edges of
lakes where they rest, often well camouflaged, on vegetation, rocks, logs, etc. Nocturnal
species usually hide in crevices or among vegetation during the day. Many stoneflies do not
feed as adults. Others feed on lichens, acellular algae, pollen, bark, and rotten wood.
Prior to mating, many Arctoperlaria tap the substrate with the tip of the abdomen
(drumming). Males initiate the drumming and virgin females respond. The drumming is
species-specific and serves to bring the partners together (Stewart and Maketon, 1990).
Mating usually occurs in daylight, on the ground, though a few species are nocturnal. Large
numbers of eggs are laid, singly or, more often, in batches of 100 or more. In flying species
females hover over the water and dip the abdomen beneath the surface. Brachypterous and
apterous forms crawl to the water’s edge, or below the water surface, in order to oviposit.
Eggs of many species develop adhesive properties on contact with water. Embryonic development is usually direct, though eggs of some species may survive drought conditions in
diapause. A few species are ovoviviparous. Larvae are typically found in streams or lakes
whose bottom is covered with stones under which they can hide. Development is slow,
frequently taking more than a year in the larger species. Many molts occur, 33 having been
recorded over a period of 3 years for one species. Most stonefly larvae are phytophagous,
feeding on lichens, algae, moss, and diatoms. Typically these are the species that also feed in
the adult stage. Juveniles of other species are carnivorous, living on other insects. These
species do not feed as adults. Like that of Odonata and mayflies, emergence of stoneflies is
frequently highly synchronized.
Metamorphosis
Metamorphosis is incomplete, the life stages being the egg, naiad, and adult.
Classification
MAIN FAMILIES
1.Nemouroidea
2.perloidea
3.Pteronarcyoidea
4.eusthenioidea
5.Gripopterygoide
Nemouridae
The Nemouridae are a family of stoneflies containing more than 700 described species,
occurring primarily in the Holarctic region. Members of this family are commonly known
as spring stoneflies or brown stoneflies. Fly fishermen often refer to these insects as tiny
winter blacks.
Perloidea
Perloidea is a superfamily of stoneflies. There are 1647 species of Perloidea, in 126 genera
and 3 families. It includes groups like Common Stoneflies, Perlodid Stoneflies, and Green
Stoneflies.
Reference
1.the main reference is the text book course “Systematics and Taxonomy of insect orders
2.https://entomology.k-state.edu/extension/4-h-and-youth/Guide-to-InsectOrders/plecoptera.html#:~:text=Order%20Plecoptera&text=Metamorphosis%20is%20incom
plete%2C%20the%20life,stones%20in%20rapidly%20running%20streams.
3. https://genent.cals.ncsu.edu/insect-identification/order-plecoptera