Stonefly - Perlesta - BugGuide.Net

Moved

… tom murray, 15 May, 2010 - 9:01pm

This does

look Perlesta to me now/also.

… Donald S. Chandler, 15 May, 2010 - 8:56pm

Wow...

I clearly missed this one! This species was mentioned in an earlier discussion that Don and I had about Isoperla/Perlesta confusion, but neither one of us was familiar with the appearance of the adult at that time. The similarities between this species and some Perlesta species is truly striking. What's more remarkable is that they are different genera in different families. (And I wonder if there is some connection to the etymology of the species name.)

Now that the species is known, perhaps Don can find something in the photo that might be distinctive. (I cannot.) If you have sufficient macro capability, you might try to get a close-up of the front femur when you photograph similar specimens. Perlesta will have a series of bristles among the fine hairs along the leading edge of the femur. I believe these will be absent in Isoperla.

… Lloyd Gonzales, 3 October, 2008 - 2:55pm

Just

saw this comment. The wings of the common Perlesta here are definitely a dark, smoky brown and the lateral margins of the front wing are clearly light - not so for this Isoperla. Otherwise, for a broader area, ?????? I would have not commented on this photo at all except that Tom saved the specimen for me. Perhaps this explains why none of the stonefly workers will identify photos to species (or even genus, and reluctant to do so to family) without the specimens being in hand.

… Donald S. Chandler, 1 February, 2009 - 6:41pm

Lloyd

I'll see if Don can elaborate on the identifying features.
When I see more of these next year, I'll get close-up photos of the front legs.

… tom murray, 5 October, 2008 - 8:34am

Moved

Moved from Perlesta.
Species was determined by Don Chandler from the specimen.

… tom murray, 26 September, 2008 - 4:26pm

This time

I saved the specimen for Don Chandler, and he can probably get it to species.

… tom murray, 14 August, 2008 - 6:23pm

Probably Perlesta

This appears to be another of the little perlids of Perlesta rather than a perlodid.

… Lloyd Gonzales, 14 August, 2008 - 4:25pm