Stonefly Larvae Facts

Stonefly larvae are the young form of the stonefly, which is an insect order known as Plecoptera. Stoneflies and their larvae exist all over the planet, and are plentiful in the North American continent. The insects generally reside near water, particularly alongside rivers, streams and lakes. Stoneflies begin life as eggs, and then as larvae before attaining full maturity. The larvae are also known as naiads or "aquatic nymphs."

  1. Habitat

    • Stonefly larvae live in water sources that are clean and that lack pollution. The larva thrives amidst increased levels of oxygen that has been dissolved. When the larva is almost at maturity, it travels along the lower parts of lakes, streams and rivers in order to exit the water. Upon exiting the water, the larva reaches adulthood and usually settles onto a rock. In general, this process takes place toward the end of the afternoon and can last until the night. Adulthood can happen at any point throughout the year, but is especially common from the end of the spring to the middle of the summer.

    Growth

    • The time span for the growth and development of stonefly larvae differs greatly. In some cases, it can be as quick as a couple of months, usually three, or up to 12 months. In other instances, the process can last as long as between two and three years.

    Appearance

    • The larvae of the stonefly have flat bodies that can be anywhere from 5 mm to more than 5 cm in length. The larva has two tails which are divided into two sections. The larvae has three legs (spaced far apart from each other), all of which consist of a pair of claws. The majority of stonefly larvae feature long antennae and gills over the abdomens and thoraxes. Not all of the insects have gills, however.

    Food

    • The diet of the stonefly larva is composed primarily of the bacteria and fungi that is emitted from decaying foliage. Larval stoneflies also consume a lot of invertebrates (such as Perlodidae and Perlidae) and algae (such as Capniidae, Nemouridae and Pteronarcyidae). In some instances, stonefly larvae operate as predators of fish eggs.