American Salmonfly
Pteronarcys dorsata
This record describes Pteronarcys dorsata (species). Recorded family: Pteronarcyidae. Recorded order: Plecoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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Terms from the source record, grouped for readability. Broad terms such as size or location are not measurements or a confirmed range.
Wikipedia reference for Pteronarcys dorsata: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pteronarcys_dorsata.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Plecoptera (Stoneflies)
- Superfamily
- Pteronarcyoidea
- Family
- Pteronarcyidae (Giant Stoneflies)
- Genus
- Pteronarcys (Giant Stoneflies)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
About Stoneflies: the wider group
Order-level background for Plecoptera, the group containing Pteronarcys dorsata. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
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.
Ecological role of the group
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.
Economic and practical significance of the group
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.
Recorded sources for this group: EPA, freshwater ecology research, fly fishing industry. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
