Capniidae

Last updated

Small winter stoneflies
Temporal range: Early Jurassic–Recent
Eocapnia nivalis 200702 crop.png
Eocapnia nivalis on the snow in Nagano (Japan)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Cohort: Polyneoptera
Order: Plecoptera
Superfamily: Nemouroidea
Family: Capniidae
Banks, 1900
Allocapnia, Great Falls, Virginia Small Winter Stonefly - Allocapnia species%3F, Riverbend Park, Great Falls, Virginia - 13007749435.jpg
Allocapnia , Great Falls, Virginia

The Capniidae, the small winter stoneflies, are a family of insects in the stonefly order (Plecoptera). It constitutes one of the largest stonefly families, containing some 300 species distributed throughout the holarctic. Their closest relatives are the rolled-winged stoneflies (Leuctridae). [1] [2]

Contents

Many species are endemic to small ranges, perhaps due to the family's tendency to evolve tolerance for cold (isolating populations in mountain valleys) and winglessness (inhibiting dispersal). [2] Indeed, some wingless Capniidae – e.g. the Lake Tahoe benthic stonefly ( "Capnia" lacustra , Capnia is not monophyletic and this species is suspected to belong elsewhere) or Baikaloperla spp. – spend their entire lifecycles under water and do not disperse from their native lakes at all. [3]

Description and ecology

Adult Capniidae, as their common name implies, are typically small Plecoptera; while most are less than 1 cm long with some measuring just 4 mm as adults, a few are as large as 25 mm (1 in) at adulthood. The adults emerge from the water in winter and are often found walking around on the snow. Characteristic are the wings with at most one cubital crossvein, and the paraprocts (anal lobes), the inner lobes of which form a tube closed on the underside by the outer lobes. [2]

Nymphs of small winter stoneflies typically have very elongated and slender bodies, similar to those of Leuctridae. However, the groove along the abdomen, from segment 1 to 9, is generally very pronounced. [2]

The nymphs dwell in the hyporheic zone, the interface between stream water and groundwater. Only immediately before moulting into the adult form will the nymphs move out of the substrate and appear on the stream bed. Thus, although they may be plentiful in clean rivers and streams, they are seldom encountered in standard samples of benthos. [2]

Systematics and taxonomy

The family Capniidae is often considered to be monotypic as to subfamily,[ clarification needed ] with the Capniinae being inserted at that rank. However, this is rather pointless;[ clarification needed ] in any case, the phylogeny, systematics, and taxonomy of the small winter stoneflies are highly confused. There appear to be two very basal genera and presumably two larger clades which conceivably could be considered subfamilies, but the phylogeny of the Capniidae is by no means robustly resolved, with about one-third of the named genera of uncertain position. Hence, any subdivision beyond the generic level is premature. [2]

The type genus Capnia has generally been considered polyphyletic. Three new or resurrected genera have recently been created, partially or wholly, from some of its species: Arsapnia , Sierracapnia , and Zwicknia . In addition, seven Capnia species were previously included the genus Bolshecapnia when it was elevated from subgenus to genus, and three of those species were placed in the new genera Eurekapnia and Sasquacapnia in 2019. [4] [5] [6]

Genera

These genera belong to the family Capniidae: [7] [8]

Extinct genera

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plecoptera</span> Order of stoneflies

Plecoptera is an order of insects, commonly known as stoneflies. Some 3,500 species are described worldwide, with new species still being discovered. Stoneflies are found worldwide, except Antarctica. Stoneflies are believed to be one of the most primitive groups of Neoptera, with close relatives identified from the Carboniferous and Lower Permian geological periods, while true stoneflies are known from fossils only a bit younger. Their modern diversity, however, apparently is of Mesozoic origin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nemouridae</span> Family of stoneflies

The Nemouridae are a family of stoneflies containing more than 700 described species, occurring primarily in the Holarctic region. Members of this family are commonly known as spring stoneflies or brown stoneflies. Fly fishermen often refer to these insects as tiny winter blacks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arctoperlaria</span> Suborder of stoneflies

Arctoperlaria is a suborder of stoneflies, with a World-wide distribution. The Plecoptera Species File divides this suborder as follows:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chloroperlidae</span> Family of stoneflies

Chloroperlidae are a family of stoneflies, commonly known as green stoneflies, with more than 200 species and 22 genera. They appear green to yellow in colour, and are popularly used among fisherman as bait for trout fishing. Green stoneflies live in the benthic zone of the cold streams and rivers of five continents and four zoogeographical regions, emerging from the water to live in the riparian zone as adults. They are sensitive to pollutants, making them an indicator species for determining the quality of water bodies. Chloroperlidae are hemimetabolous, having no pupal stage, but instead hatch from eggs as nymphs and mature directly into adults. They are omnivorous, feeding on small organisms and plant particles, and become more carnivorous as they mature. The classification of Chloroperlidae is contested, with some believing that they should be considered as members of different orders, as opposed to the order Plecoptera that they currently belong to.

<i>Isoperla</i> Genus of stoneflies

Isoperla is a genus of Palaearctic and Nearctic stoneflies in the subfamily Isoperlinae and the family Perlodidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leuctridae</span> Family of stoneflies

The Leuctridae are a family of stoneflies. They are known commonly as rolled-winged stoneflies and needleflies. This family contains at least 390 species.

Paraleuctra is a genus of rolled-winged stoneflies in the family Leuctridae. There are more than 20 described species in Paraleuctra.

Megaleuctra is a genus of rolled-winged stoneflies in the family Leuctridae. There are about seven described species in Megaleuctra.

<i>Sweltsa</i> Genus of stoneflies

Sweltsa is a genus of green stoneflies in the family Chloroperlidae. There are more than 50 described species in Sweltsa.

Suwallia is a genus of green stoneflies in the family Chloroperlidae. There are more than 20 described species in Suwallia.

<i>Capnia</i> Genus of stoneflies

Capnia is a genus of small winter stoneflies in the family Capniidae. There are at least 120 described species in Capnia.

Capnura is a genus of small winter stoneflies in the family Capniidae. There are about seven described species in Capnura.

Arsapnia is a genus of small winter stoneflies in the family Capniidae. There are about eight described species in Arsapnia.

Eurekapnia is a genus of small winter stoneflies in the family Capniidae. There is one described species in Eurekapnia, E. maculata.

Sasquacapnia is a genus of small winter stoneflies in the family Capniidae. There are at least two described species in Sasquacapnia.

Sierracapnia is a genus of small winter stoneflies in the family Capniidae. There are about seven described species in Sierracapnia.

<i>Zwicknia</i> Genus of stoneflies

Zwicknia is a genus of small winter stoneflies in the family Capniidae. There are about 11 described species in Zwicknia.

Bolshecapnia is a genus of small winter stoneflies in the family Capniidae. There are at least four described species in Bolshecapnia.

Capnia lacustra, also known as the Lake Tahoe benthic stonefly, is a species of insect in the family Capniidae. It was first described by S.G. Jewett in 1965 and is the only stonefly known to spend its entire adult life underwater.

References

  1. ↑ "Plecoptera. Stoneflies". Tree of Life. Retrieved 2019-06-10.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Capniidae. Winter Stoneflies". Tree of Life. Retrieved 2019-06-10.
  3. ↑ E. M. Holst (2000). "Lake Tahoe benthic stonefly (Capnia lacustra)" (PDF). In D. D. Murhy; C. M. Knopp (eds.). Lake Tahoe Watershed Assessment (PDF). United States Department of Agriculture. pp. O–118 – O–120.
  4. ↑ Broome, Hannah Jean; Stark, Bill P.; Baumann, Richard W. (2019). "A review of the genus Bolshecapnia Ricker, 1965 (Plecoptera: Capniidae), and recognition of two new Nearctic capniid genera" (PDF). Illiesia. 15 (1): 1–26. doi:10.25031/2019/15.01 (inactive 31 January 2024).{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of January 2024 (link)
  5. ↑ Murányi, Dávid; Gamboa, Maribet; Orci, Kirill Márk (2014). "Zwicknia gen. n., a new genus for the Capnia bifrons species group, with descriptions of three new species based on morphology, drumming signals and molecular genetics, and a synopsis of the West Palaearctic and Nearctic genera of Capniidae (Plecoptera)". Zootaxa. 3812 (1): 1, 3–82. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3812.1.1. PMID   24943267.
  6. ↑ Bottorff, R.L.; Baumann, R.W. (2015). "Sierracapnia, a new genus of Capniidae (Plecoptera) from western North America" (PDF). Illiesia. 11 (9): 104–125.
  7. ↑ DeWalt, R.E.; Maehr, M.D.; Neu-Becker, U.; Stueber, G. (2019). "family Capniidae". Plecoptera species file online, Version 5.0. Retrieved 2019-06-10.
  8. ↑ "Capniidae". GBIF. Retrieved 2019-06-10.
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