Other Common Names
Green-winged Stoneflies (subfamily Isoperlinae)
Stripetails (subfamily Isoperlinae)
Springflies (subfamily Perlodinae)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
subfamily Isoperlinae was formerly considered a family (Isoperlidae)
Numbers
124 species in 30 genera in North America (
nearctica.com) with almost half of the species (60) belonging to one genus,
Isoperla.
Size
adult length usually 10-15 mm; some species reach 25 mm
Identification
adults of Isoperla species commonly have yellowish or greenish bodies as well as greenish wings; species in other genera are brown or black; pronotum rectangular with corners narrowly rounded; anal lobe of hindwing well developed and with 5 or more veins reaching the wing margin behind vein 1A; adult males of most genera except Arcynopteryx have a lobe on the seventh sternite
nymphs have hind wing pads that protrude at an angle from the body's axis, and the body is pigmented in a distinct pattern; cerci longer than length of abdomen; paraglossae extend beyond the glossae; thoracic gills - if present - either single or double but not profusely branched
[larval and adult description adapted from How to Know the Insects by Roger Bland, 1978]
Historically I believe that the chloroperlids (as Chloroperlinae) were once part of the Perlodidae, but they have been set aside as a separate family for some time now. At least some of the "green-winged stoneflies" (subfamily Isoperlinae)do have a yellowish/greenish anterior margin to the forewing, but never do they have the entire wing a brilliant green, as do the "green stoneflies," the common name for the Chloroperlidae. The current classification is at
http://plsa.inhs.uiuc.edu/plecoptera/validnames.aspx.
… Donald S. Chandler, 25 April, 2008
Range
much of North America, although species diversity is greater in mountainous areas of northern United States and southern Canada; many species have a restricted range, and are endemic to a relatively small area
Habitat
nymphs live in a wide variety of flowing water habitats, from small streams to large rivers
adults are often found resting or crawling on foliage near water where nymphs developed
Season
spring or spring and summer, depending on genera/species
Food
nymphs prey on small aquatic invertebrates
some adults feed on pollen
Remarks
adults of Isoperla are diurnal
Internet References
live adult and nymph images of
Hydroperla crosbyi and
Diura knowltoni by C. Riley Nelson, plus brief overview, classification, and references (Tree of Life, U. of Arizona)
live larva images of undetermined
Isoperla species (Valley City State U., North Dakota)
live larva images of undetermined Perlodidae specimens (California Dept. of Fish and Game)
larva and adult images of undetermined
Isoperla species (D. Mason, U. of Oregon)
US distribution maps and common name reference [Stripetails, Springflies], plus common names for almost all North American species (Stoneflies of United States, USGS)
