STONEFLIES

Stoneflies are yummy crumpets if you are a trout.  Many fly fishermen know how to tie a stonefly and work hard to “match the hatch”; meaning that they try to use a lure/fly that looks like the critters that are emerging from the water.  The adults are delicate, winged insects with two thread-like tails.  They can be found at the water’s edge in mating swarms.  Among the swarm, a male and female will mate and the female will lay her eggs.  These hatch in the water and the larvae begin a series of steps to transformation.  As aquatic larvae, they hang out on rocks using two claws on each of their legs to hold their spot even in rushing streams.  They feed (most of them) on algae and bacteria growing on the surface of submerged rocks which is how they get their name.  They will spend up to two years as larvae.  During this time, their wings begin to lengthen from backpack-like nubbins into wing-like stubs.  They breathe through gills located under each leg.  They use their two tails (which they will have as adults too) for balance and detecting water flow (at least that what scientists think).  They will remain as larvae until they crawl out of the water, transform one last time, and become flying adults.  Stoneflies (Order Plecoptera) are indicators of water quality.  They don’t tolerate low oxygen levels in the water.  When oxygen levels get lower, they will do pushups to move more water over their gills (located in their arm pits).  If that isn’t enough, they will try to escape or die or get eaten (which is another way to die - they are yummy crumpets after all).