Needle Stonefly vs Willow Calligrapha

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Needle Stonefly Willow Calligrapha
Scientific Name Leuctra fusca Calligrapha multipunctata bigsbyana
Order Plecoptera Coleoptera
Family Leuctridae Chrysomelidae
Size 6-10 mm 7-9 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Wetlands
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Europe, Asia North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Needle Stonefly

A small slender stonefly that rolls its wings tightly around its body at rest, giving it a needle-like appearance. Common in small streams across Europe.

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Did You Know?

Needle stoneflies are among the most pollution-sensitive aquatic insects and disappear quickly from streams affected by acid rain.

Willow Calligrapha

A subspecies of Calligrapha with pale elytra marked with elongated dark spots and dashes. It is associated with willow trees along waterways in North America.

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Did You Know?

Calligrapha beetles are a model system for studying pattern formation in biology, as no two individuals share the same elytral markings.