Rain Fly vs Sallfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Rain Fly Sallfly
Scientific Name Haematopota crassicornis Chloroperla tripunctata
Order Diptera Plecoptera
Family Tabanidae Chloroperlidae
Size 9-12 mm 6-10 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Rivers & Streams
Diet Blood Feeders Predators
Regions Europe, Central Asia Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Rain Fly

A medium-sized cleg with mottled grey wings and iridescent green eyes. It is most active in humid overcast weather before thunderstorms.

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Did You Know?

Its activity increases dramatically before rainstorms, hence the common name 'rain fly'.

Sallfly

A small, bright green stonefly with three distinctive dark spots on its head. It is common in clean European upland streams during spring.

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Did You Know?

The three dark dots on its head give this species its Latin name tripunctata, meaning three-spotted.