Needlefly vs Stripetail Stonefly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Needlefly Stripetail Stonefly
Scientific Name Leuctra inermis Isoperla bilineata
Order Plecoptera Plecoptera
Family Leuctridae Perlodidae
Size 6-9 mm 10-15 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Rivers & Streams
Diet Detritivores Predators
Regions Europe Eastern North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Needlefly

A slender stonefly that rolls its wings tightly around its body at rest, resembling a needle. Nymphs shred leaf litter in small streams.

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Did You Know?

The tightly rolled wings make the adult appear to have no wings at all when viewed from above.

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.