Spring Pygmy Firefly vs Large Alpine Stonefly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Spring Pygmy Firefly Large Alpine Stonefly
Scientific Name Pleotomus pallens Perla grandis
Order Coleoptera Plecoptera
Family Lampyridae Perlidae
Size 5-8 mm 20-33 mm body length
Habitat Underground Mountains
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Eastern North America Europe, Alps, Pyrenees
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Spring Pygmy Firefly

A tiny, rarely seen firefly of the eastern United States with a very short adult life span. Males produce faint, sporadic greenish flashes close to the ground.

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Did You Know?

Females are wingless and larviform, and were once classified as a completely separate species from the males.

Large Alpine Stonefly

One of the largest European stoneflies, found in clean mountain rivers. Its nymphs take several years to develop in cold water.

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Did You Know?

Nymphs may take up to four years to complete development in cold alpine waters.