Name: Winter Stonefly (Family Taeniopterygidae -probably)

Order: Plecoptera - Stoneflies

Natural History: As you may guess from the wing buds on the pictured specimen, some of the Winter Stoneflies are early emergers.  These stoneflies are often difficult to see in a net, as they are slow moving and tend to be covered in detritus. This one was found in the riffle of a small, fast moving stream with a cobble bottom, but other species live in sand covered streams.  Eastern fly fisherman know these stoneflies well, and their imitations of larvae and adults are popular early-season flies.

Pollution tolerance: Slight (2 out of 10)

Location: Skaggs Run, Hardy County

When collected: January 2005