Sallfly vs Short-Tailed Stonefly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Sallfly Short-Tailed Stonefly
Scientific Name Chloroperla tripunctata Brachyptera risi
Order Plecoptera Plecoptera
Family Chloroperlidae Taeniopterygidae
Size 6-10 mm 8-14 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Rivers & Streams
Diet Predators Detritivores
Regions Europe Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

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.

Short-Tailed Stonefly

A medium-sized early-emerging stonefly with notably short cerci. It hatches in late winter and early spring across European rivers.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the first insects to emerge each year, often appearing while rivers still have ice margins.