Tiny Winter Black Stonefly vs Great Red Sedge

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Tiny Winter Black Stonefly Great Red Sedge
Scientific Name Capnia nigra Phryganea striata
Order Plecoptera Trichoptera
Family Capniidae Phryganeidae
Size 4-8 mm 20-25 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Rivers & Streams
Diet Detritivores Herbivores
Regions Europe, Northern Asia Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Tiny Winter Black Stonefly

A tiny black stonefly that emerges in late winter across European streams. It is among the earliest insects to appear each year.

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Did You Know?

Females are often wingless or short-winged, relying on walking rather than flight to find mates.

Great Red Sedge

A large cinnamon-colored caddisfly with distinctive striped wings, well known to European anglers. It hatches in early summer on lakes and slow rivers.

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Did You Know?

This caddisfly inspired one of the oldest known artificial fishing flies, the "Great Red Sedge," used since at least the fifteenth century.