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)
Smooth Needle Fly
Leuctra inermis
Soliperla sierra
Soliperla sierra
Southern Stone
Agnetina annulipes
Soyedina interrupta
Soyedina interrupta
Soyedina nevadensis
Soyedina nevadensis
Soyedina vallicularia
Soyedina vallicularia
Soyedina washingtoni
Soyedina washingtoni
Spiny Forestfly
Nemoura spiniloba
Spiny Salmonfly
Pteronarcys comstocki
Stretched Snowfly
Mesocapnia porrecta
Striped Stone
Perlinella drymo
Strophopteryx fasciata
Strophopteryx fasciata
Suwallia forcipata
Suwallia forcipata
Suwallia marginata
Suwallia marginata
Sweltsa borealis
Sweltsa borealis
Sweltsa coloradensis
Sweltsa coloradensis
Sweltsa lateralis
Sweltsa lateralis
Sweltsa naica
Sweltsa naica
Sweltsa onkos
Sweltsa onkos
Taenionema atlanticum
Taenionema atlanticum
Taenionema californicum
Taenionema californicum
Taenionema kincaidi
Taenionema kincaidi
Taeniopteryx burksi
Taeniopteryx burksi
Taeniopteryx nivalis
Taeniopteryx nivalis
Taeniopteryx parvula
Taeniopteryx parvula
Tallaperla maria
Tallaperla maria
Tamalpais Sallfly
Sweltsa tamalpa
Toothed Small Brown
Amphinemura sulcicollis
Two-lobed Forestfly
Malenka biloba
Utacapnia logana
Utacapnia logana
Utacapnia trava
Utacapnia trava
Utaperla gaspesiana
Utaperla gaspesiana
Vernal Stone
Perlinella ephyre
Visoka cataractae
Visoka cataractae
Wagner Gap Sallfly
Kathroperla siskiyou
Widow Stonefly
Capnia vidua
Willow Fly
Leuctra geniculata
Yellow Sally Stonefly
Isoperla grammatica
Yolo Snowfly
Mesocapnia yoloensis
Yoraperla mariana
Yoraperla mariana
Yoraperla nigrisoma
Yoraperla nigrisoma
Yosemite Sallfly
Haploperla chilnualna
Yugus verticalis
Yugus verticalis
Zapada cinctipes
Zapada cinctipes
Zapada columbiana
Zapada columbiana
Zapada cordillera
Zapada cordillera
Zapada frigida
Zapada frigida
Zapada oregonensis
Zapada oregonensis