Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Stoneflies (Plecoptera) » Pteronarcyoidea » Giant Stoneflies (Pteronarcyidae)

Family Pteronarcyidae - Giant Stoneflies

Shrimp face - Pteronarcys californica Pteronarcys biloba Stonefly? - Pteronarcys - female Large Yellowstone Bug - Pteronarcys Pteronarcys with eggs - Pteronarcys californica - female Pteronarcys biloba Pteronarcys proteus Pteronarcys near foothill stream - Pteronarcys
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Plecoptera (Stoneflies)
Superfamily Pteronarcyoidea
Family Pteronarcyidae (Giant Stoneflies)
Other Common Names
Salmonflies
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
=Pteronarcidae
Numbers
2 genera, with 10 spp. in our area(1) and 12 spp. total(2)
Size
adult body length 25-60 mm
Identification
Adult: dark brown, gray, or blackish; anal area of forewing with two or more rows of cross veins (a diagnostic feature)
Nymph: branched gills on ventral side of thorax and first two abdominal segments (the abdominal gills are often visible from above)
Range
NA + most of Asia(2)
Habitat
most nymphs develop in medium to large rivers; adults are nocturnal and often come to lights
Season
adults appear in spring and early summer
Food
nymphs feed on aquatic plants, adults do not feed
See Also
some spp. of Acroneuria (Perlidae) are large (to 40 mm) and look similar but lack rows of cross veins in anal area of forewing; nymphs of Perlidae have thoracic gills but not abdominal gills
Works Cited
1.Stark B.P., Baumann R.W., DeWalt R.E. (2009) Valid stonefly names for North America
2.DeWalt R.E., Maehr M.D., Neu-Becker U., Stueber G. (2013) Plecoptera species file online. Version 5.0
Contributed by Robin McLeod on 18 February, 2006 - 7:57am
Additional contributions by Chuck Entz, v belov
Last updated 8 November, 2011 - 9:48pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo