common stoneflies

(Family Perlidae)

Overview  •  Description  •  Distribution  •  Taxonomy

Overview

Perlidae is a large family of stoneflies. It occurs in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, and South America. It is common throughout the United States and southern Canada. It is common in Minnesota.

Perlidae is the largest stonefly family worldwide. There are 1,368 Perlidae species in 67 genera in 2 subfamilies worldwide, 84 species in 15 genera in 2 subfamilies in North America north of Mexico, and at least 13 species in 7 genera in 2 subfamilies in Minnesota.
 
common stonefly (Family Perlidae)
Photo by Alfredo Colon
 

Nymphs are found mostly in clear, medium to large streams, often under large stones, but they are sometimes also found in larger silty rivers. They feed mostly on small aquatic invertebrates but also on algae and detritus.

Adults are active from April to September. They do not feed.
Description

Adults are yellowish to brownish and ⅜″ to 1½″ (9 to 40 mm) in length.

The anal area of the forewing does not have two rows of crossveins.

Nymphs are yellowish to brownish with dark markings on the head and thorax.
Distribution

Distribution Map

  

Sources

27, 29, 30, 82, 83.

Sargeant, Alan B., Raymond J. Greenwood, Marsha A. Sovada, and Terry L. Shaffer.  1993.  Distribution and abundance of predators that affect duck production - Prairie Pothole Region.  U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Resource Publication 194.  Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Online.  http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/birds/predator/index.htm (Version 29MAR1997). (Internet Archive)
3/22/2025  
   
Taxonomy

Order

Plecoptera (stoneflies)

Suborder

Arctoperlaria

Infraorder

Systellognatha

Superfamily

Perloidea
   

Subordinate Taxa

Subfamily Acroneuriinae

Subfamily Perlinae

   

Synonyms

 
   

Common Names

common stoneflies

summer stoneflies

true stoneflies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Term

Definition

 

 

 

 

 

Visitor Photos
 

Share your photo of this insect.
 

This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Attach one or more photos and, if you like, a caption.

Alfredo Colon

Found this beauty on August 7, 2022, in Saratoga Springs, New York.
common stonefly (Family Perlidae)   common stonefly (Family Perlidae)
     
common stonefly (Family Perlidae)   common stonefly (Family Perlidae)
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
   

 
   

 

 

Camera

 

Slideshows

 
 
 

 

slideshow

 

Visitor Videos
 

Share your video of this insect.
 

This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Attach a video, a YouTube link, or a cloud storage link.

 

 
 
 
Other Videos

Perlidae
DocBebitte
About

Aug 21, 2017

Plécoptère de la famille Perlidae. Notez les tractions (push-ups) effectuées afin de favoriser une plus grande assimilation d'oxygène. Pour en savoir plus, lisez la chronique sur ce sujet: https://docbebitte.com/2017/08/25/docbebitte-en-bref-des-insectes-aquatiques-qui-gardent-la-forme/

Google Translate: Stonefly of the Perlidae family. Note the push-ups performed to promote greater oxygen uptake. To learn more, read the column on this topic: https://docbebitte.com/2017/08/25/docbebitte-en-bref-des-insectes-aquatiques-qui-gardent-la-forme/

Common Stonefly (Perlidae: Hesperoperla?)
Carl Barrentine
About

Jun 22, 2013

Photographed at the Turtle River State Park, North Dakota (22 June 2013).

 

Camcorder

 

Visitor Sightings
 

Report a sighting of this insect.
 

This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Be sure to include a location.

Alfredo Colon
8/7/2022

Location: Saratoga Springs, New York

Found this beauty on August 7, 2022, in Saratoga Springs, New York.

 common stonefly (Family Perlidae)
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings

 

 

 

Binoculars

 

Created: 3/22/2025

Last Updated:

© MinnesotaSeasons.com. All rights reserved.

About Us

Privacy Policy

Contact Us