Abstract
Plecoptera, or stoneflies, are an ancient insect order. The order name refers to the ability to fold their wings horizontally. Sixteen extant families and nearly 3,500 valid species are currently known. The nymphs of the vast majority of species are aquatic and most feed in two general categories, as shredders of leaves and as predators of other invertebrates. Adults are terrestrial, inhabiting vegetation near the stream or lake from which they emerged. In this chapter we present the morphology of stoneflies and cover aspects of their ecology and behavior. We also discuss sampling, rearing, and preservation of stonefly specimens. The conservation status of stoneflies is also discussed.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Thorp and Covich's Freshwater Invertebrates |
| Subtitle of host publication | Ecology and General Biology: Fourth Edition |
| Publisher | Elsevier Inc. |
| Pages | 933-949 |
| Number of pages | 17 |
| Volume | 1 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9780123850270 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9780123850263 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2015 |
Keywords
- Drumming
- Ecology
- Plecoptera
- Preservation
- Sampling
- Stoneflies
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Agricultural and Biological Sciences
- General Environmental Science