Glacial Stonefly vs Western Glacier Stonefly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Glacial Stonefly | Western Glacier Stonefly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Leuctra alpina | Zapada glacier |
| Order | Plecoptera | Plecoptera |
| Family | Leuctridae | Nemouridae |
| Size | 6-9 mm body length | 5-8 mm body length |
| Habitat | Mountains | Mountains |
| Diet | Detritivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Alps, Pyrenees | Glacier National Park, Montana |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Endangered |
Glacial Stonefly
A small, slender stonefly found in the coldest alpine headwater streams. Its needle-like wings are rolled tightly around its body at rest.
Did You Know?
Its rolled-wing resting posture gives the family its common name of needle flies.
Western Glacier Stonefly
A cold-specialist stonefly found only in glacier-fed streams in Glacier National Park. It is threatened by the retreat of mountain glaciers.
Did You Know?
It may become one of the first insects driven to extinction by climate change as glaciers disappear.