Stoneflies
Order Plecoptera
The Stoneflies (Order Plecoptera) includes 248 species across 10 families and 79 genera in our directory.
About Stoneflies
Plecoptera (stoneflies) includes ~3,700 described species. Stonefly nymphs are among the most pollution-sensitive aquatic insects - they require cold, clean, well-oxygenated running water to survive.
Economic Impact
Stoneflies are considered the gold standard bioindicator for water quality monitoring worldwide. Their absence from a stream is one of the strongest signals of pollution or environmental degradation.
Ecological Role
Stonefly nymphs are important shredders of leaf litter in streams, breaking down organic material and making nutrients available to other organisms. Adults are a key food source for trout and are widely imitated in fly fishing.
Families in Plecoptera (10)
Species in Plecoptera (248)
Agnetina capitata
Agnetina capitata
Are known to drive mayfly naiads, Baetis tricaudatus and Ephemerella subvaria from the undersurface of stones and into exposed situations where they are susceptible to fish predation. A good example of facilitation between predator species. ( 3 )
Ebony Salmonfly
Pteronarcys princeps
Identification: Mature nymphs have blunt corners on their pronotum and evenly rounded wing pads
Isogenoides hansoni
Isogenoides hansoni
Identification: White "W" on head, medial pale patch on last tergite, banding pattern of abdomen.
Capnia nigra
Capnia nigra
Capnia zijinshana
Capnia zijinshana
Isoperla bithynica
Isoperla bithynica
Isoperla difformis
Isoperla difformis
Isoperla nevada
Isoperla nevada
Isoperla rivulorum
Isoperla rivulorum
Kathroperla doma
Kathroperla doma
Leuctra alpina
Leuctra alpina
Leuctra ameliae
Leuctra ameliae
Leuctra armata
Leuctra armata
Leuctra major
Leuctra major
Leuctra meridionalis
Leuctra meridionalis
Leuctra niveola
Leuctra niveola
Leuctra prima
Leuctra prima
Leuctra rauscheri
Leuctra rauscheri
Leuctra schmidi
Leuctra schmidi
Leuctra vesulensis
Leuctra vesulensis
Nemoura nankinensis
Nemoura nankinensis
Nemoura sinuata
Nemoura sinuata
Neoperla coreensis
Neoperla coreensis
Peltoperla tarteri
Peltoperla tarteri
Pteronarcys reticulata
Pteronarcys reticulata
Pteronarcys sachalina
Pteronarcys sachalina
Soliperla campanula
Soliperla campanula
Soliperla cowlitz
Soliperla cowlitz
Soliperla fenderi
Soliperla fenderi
Soliperla quadrispinula
Soliperla quadrispinula
Soliperla thyra
Soliperla thyra
Sweltsa nikkoensis
Sweltsa nikkoensis
Taeniopteryx araneoides
Taeniopteryx araneoides
Taeniopteryx hubaulti
Taeniopteryx hubaulti
Taeniopteryx kuehtreiberi
Taeniopteryx kuehtreiberi
Taeniopteryx schoenemundi
Taeniopteryx schoenemundi
Tallaperla anna
Tallaperla anna
Tallaperla cornelia
Tallaperla cornelia
Tallaperla laurie
Tallaperla laurie
Tallaperla maiyae
Tallaperla maiyae
Yoraperla uenoi
Yoraperla uenoi
Acroneuria arenosa
Acroneuria arenosa
Acroneuria carolinensis
Acroneuria carolinensis
Acroneuria evoluta
Acroneuria evoluta
Acroneuria lycorias
Acroneuria lycorias
Agnetina flavescens
Agnetina flavescens
Allocapnia jeanae
Allocapnia jeanae
Allocapnia maria
Allocapnia maria
Allocapnia minima
Allocapnia minima
Allocapnia nivicola
Allocapnia nivicola
Allocapnia ozarkana
Allocapnia ozarkana
Allocapnia pygmaea
Allocapnia pygmaea
Allocapnia recta
Allocapnia recta
Allocapnia vivipara
Allocapnia vivipara
Alloperla concolor
Alloperla concolor
Alloperla petasata
Alloperla petasata
American Salmonfly
Pteronarcys dorsata
American Springfly 0
Skwala americana
Amphinemura linda
Amphinemura linda
Amphinemura nigritta
Amphinemura nigritta
Amphinemura wui
Amphinemura wui
Appalachian Roachfly
Peltoperla arcuata
Appalachian Salmonfly
Pteronarcys proteus
Attaneuria ruralis
Attaneuria ruralis
Banded Forestfly
Prostoia besametsa
Beautiful Springfly
Susulus venustus
Beautiful Stone
Paragnetina immarginata
Black Needle Fly
Leuctra nigra
Bolotoperla rossi
Bolotoperla rossi
Calineuria californica
Calineuria californica
Capnia lineata
Capnia lineata
Capnia promota
Capnia promota
Capnia umpqua
Capnia umpqua
Capnia zukeli 0
Capnia zukeli
Capnura manitoba
Capnura manitoba
Carolina Salmonfly
Pteronarcys scotti
Cascades Sallfly
Alloperla fraterna
Claassenia sabulosa
Claassenia sabulosa
Clioperla clio
Clioperla clio
Coastal Roachfly
Yoraperla siletz
Colorado Snowfly
Capnia coloradensis
Columbian Snowfly
Utacapnia columbiana
Common Snowfly
Allocapnia granulata
Common Stone
Acroneuria abnormis
Common Stonefly
Paragnetina media
Cosumnoperla hypocrena
Cosumnoperla hypocrena
Cultus verticalis
Cultus verticalis
Dardanelle Sallfly
Sweltsa townesi
Delicate Forestfly
Podmosta delicatula
Despaxia augusta
Despaxia augusta
Diploperla duplicata
Diploperla duplicata
Doroneuria baumanni
Doroneuria baumanni
Dwarf Snowfly
Capnia nana
Early Needle Fly
Leuctra hippopus
Eccoptura xanthenes
Eccoptura xanthenes
Eucapnopsis brevicauda
Eucapnopsis brevicauda
Eurekapnia maculata
Eurekapnia maculata
February Red
Taeniopteryx nebulosa
Frisonia picticeps
Frisonia picticeps
Giant Roachfly
Sierraperla cora