The Perlodidae, also known as the perlodid stoneflies, stripetails, or springflies, are a family of stoneflies.
Natural history The family Perlodidae is composed of at least 50 genera and over 350 species, with the fossil records extending at least from the Triassic. The majority of perlodid stoneflies are univoltine - one generation occurs per year. Usually, adults emerge from April to June. Many species have an egg diapause during the warmer months; this allows them to inhabit otherwise unfriendly environments like temporary seeps or streams. Larvae have flattened bodies, often with patterns on their heads and thoraces, long tails, and divergent hind wing pads. Unlike the similar common stoneflies, perlodid larvae do not have branching gills on their thoraces. The perlodids are found throughout North America.
Habit and habitat The Perlodidae are generally lotic and lentic erosional. These habitats are flowing streams or pools that contain sediments, vascular plants, and detritus. They are most often found in cool, clear streams with rocky bottoms. They are found under rocks and in coarse particulate organic matter where many prey are to be found. The larvae are generally considered to be clingers as can be seen by their wide stance for gripping substrates.
Functional feeding group The perlodid larvae are mostly predators that engulf their prey, although a few species are scrapers and collector-gatherers. They will eat a variety of small invertebrates, but they are also known to eat plant matter, especially when young.
Genera Selected genera in the two subfamilies include: Isoperlinae Calliperla Banks, 1948 Cascadoperla Szczytko & Stewart, 1979 Cosumnoperla Szczytko & Bottorff, 1987 Clioperla Needham & Claassen, 1925 Isoperla Banks, 1906 Kaszabia Raušer, 1968 Cosumnoperla Szczytko & Bottorff, 1987 Perlodinae Afroperlodes Miron & Zwick, 1973 Arcynopteryx Klapálek, 1904 Baumannella Stark & Stewart, 1985 Besdolus Ricker, 1952 Bulgaroperla Raušer, 1966 Chernokrilus Ricker, 1952 Cultus Ricker, 1952 Dictyogenus Klapálek, 1904 Diploperla Needham & Claassen, 1925 Diura Billberg, 1820 Filchneria Klapálek, 1908 Frisonia Ricker, 1943 Guadalgenus Stark & Gonzalez del Tanago, 1986 Hedinia Navás, 1936 Helopicus Ricker, 1952 Hemimelaena Klapálek, 1907 Hydroperla Frison, 1935 Isogenoides Klapálek, 1912 Isogenus Newman, 1833 Kogotus Ricker, 1952 Levanidovia Teslenko & Zhiltzova, 1989 Malirekus Ricker, 1952 Megaperlodes Yokoyama, Isobe & Yamamoto, 1990 Megarcys Klapálek, 1912 Neofilchneria Zwick, 1973 Neowuia Li & Murányi, 2017 Oconoperla Stark & Stewart, 1982 Oroperla Needham, 1933 Osobenus Ricker, 1952 Ostrovus Ricker, 1952 Perlinodes Needham & Claassen, 1925 Perlodes Banks, 1903 Perlodinella Klapálek, 1912 Pictetiella Illies, 1966 Protarcys Klapálek, 1912 Pseudomegarcys Kohno, 1946 Rauserodes Zwick, 1999 Remenus Ricker, 1952 Rickera Jewett, 1954 Salmoperla Baumann & Lauck, 1987 Setvena Ricker, 1952 Skwala Ricker, 1943 Sopkalia Ricker, 1952 Stavsolus Ricker, 1952 Susulus Bottorff & Stewart, 1989 Tadamus Ricker, 1952 Yugus Ricker, 1952 Zhiltzovaia Özdikmen, 2008 Extinct, incertae sedis † Derancheperla Sinitshenkova, 1990 † Isoperlodes Sinitshenkova, 1992
References
Voshell, J.R. A Guide to Common Freshwater Invertebrates of North America. McDonald and Woodward. Blacksburg, Va. 2002. Merritt and Cummins. An Introduction to the Aquatic insects of North America 3rd ed. Kendall Hunt. Dubuque, Iowa. 1996.