“Spring Stoneflies, Forestflies”
Family Overview
Nemouridae
Spring Stoneflies, Forestflies
There are 12 North American genera with roughly 60 species. This group is often referred to as “spring stoneflies,” however, adults of different species emerge at different times of year. The larvae tend to prefer small rivers, streams, and springs. They are often found in leaf packs, wood, or other coarse sediments. This makes sense as most of them are shredding detritivores, though some are collector-gatherers. These larvae can be easily confused with Taeniopterygidae as they both have wing pads divergent (not parallel with the body axis) but can be distinguished because the second tarsal segment of each leg of Nemouridae is much shorter in length than the first. These tend to be hairy larvae with hind legs longer than the abdomen.
Characteristics
POLLUTION TOLERANCE
Upper Midwest: 2 - 3
Southeast: 0.3 - 3.1
0 = least tolerant, 10 = most tolerant
FEEDING HABITS
Collector / Gatherer
Shredder / Detritivore
Shredder / Detritivore
MOVEMENT
Clinger
Sprawler
Sprawler
Diagnostic Characters
Media
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