Mountain Stonefly vs Stripetail Stonefly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Mountain Stonefly Stripetail Stonefly
Scientific Name Protonemura montana Isoperla bilineata
Order Plecoptera Plecoptera
Family Nemouridae Perlodidae
Size 6-10 mm body length 10-15 mm
Habitat Mountains Rivers & Streams
Diet Herbivores Predators
Regions Europe, Alps, British mountains Eastern North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Mountain Stonefly

A small brown stonefly common along mountain brooks and streams. Nymphs feed on fallen leaves in cold, well-oxygenated water.

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Did You Know?

Its presence is an indicator of excellent water quality in mountain streams.

Stripetail Stonefly

A yellow-green stonefly with two distinctive dark stripes on its tails. It is common in clean North American streams during spring.

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Did You Know?

Its distinctively striped cerci make it one of the easiest North American stoneflies to identify.