Perlidae | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Plecoptera |
Superfamily: | Perloidea |
Family: | Perlidae Latreille, 1802 |
Subfamilies | |
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The Perlidae are a family of stoneflies, with more than 50 genera and 1,100 described species. [1] The majority of the Perlidae are found in eastern North America, but they occur worldwide except for Antarctica and parts of Africa. Their lifecycles range between one and three years. The adults emerge in the summer; they are very active and known to be attracted to light sources. They are usually very sensitive to changes in environment. [2]
Perlidae are usually lotic and lentic erosional. They are found in cool, clear medium-sized to large streams and sometimes in larger, warm rivers that carry silt. They are crawlers and can move quickly. In still water, no water moves over their gills, so they move their bodies up and down to keep oxygen flowing over them.
They are engulfer-predators. They consume all types of invertebrates. Very young larvae are collector-gatherers.
These 56 genera belong to the family Perlidae: [1] [3]
Taeniopterygidae are a family of stone flies with about 110 described extant species. They are commonly called willowflies or winter stoneflies and have a holarctic distribution. Adults are usually smaller than 15 mm.
The Perlodidae, also known as the perlodid stoneflies, stripetails, or springflies, are a 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.
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).
Arctoperlaria is a suborder of stoneflies, with a World-wide distribution. The Plecoptera Species File divides this suborder as follows:
Isoperla is a genus of Palaearctic and Nearctic stoneflies in the subfamily Isoperlinae and the family Perlodidae.
Perlodinae is a subfamily of springflies in the family Perlodidae.
Acroneuriinae is a subfamily of common stoneflies in the family Perlidae. There are about 32 genera and about 520 described species in Acroneuriinae.
Acroneuria is a genus of common stoneflies in the family Perlidae. There are more than 30 described species in Acroneuria.
Diploperlini is a tribe of springflies in the family Perlodidae. There are about 13 genera and more than 30 described species in Diploperlini.
Sweltsa is a genus of green stoneflies in the family Chloroperlidae. There are more than 50 described species in Sweltsa.
Calineuria is a genus of common stoneflies in the family Perlidae. There are about seven described species in Calineuria.
Claassenia is a genus of common stoneflies in the family Perlidae. There are about 12 described species in Claassenia.
Oemopteryx is a genus of winter stoneflies in the family Taeniopterygidae. There are about six described species in Oemopteryx.
Arcynopterygini is a tribe of springflies in the family Perlodidae. There are about 11 genera and more than 30 described species in Arcynopterygini.
Perla is a genus of common stoneflies in the family Perlidae. There are at least 30 described species in Perla.
Styloperlidae is a family of stoneflies in the order Plecoptera. There are at least 2 genera and 9 described species in Styloperlidae. The species etymology is based on the type locality near Sapa.