order
Coleoptera
“Adult Beetles”
Coleoptera
“Larval Beetles”
Diptera
“True Flies”
Ephemeroptera
“Mayflies”
Hemiptera
“True Bugs”
Lepidoptera
“Aquatic Caterpillars, Snout Moths”
Megaloptera
“Alderflies, Dobsonflies, and Fishflies”
Odonata
“Dragonflies and Damselflies”
Plecoptera
“Stoneflies”
Trichoptera
“Caddisflies”
genus
Sialis
“Alderflies”
Genus Overview
Sialids are usually found in streams, rivers or lakes where substrate is soft with detritus. They tend to have a 1-2 yr life cycle. They pupate on land in an underground chamber. They emerge in the late spring and early summer. There are 22 species in North America.
Characteristics
POLLUTION TOLERANCE
Southeast: up to 7.4
Upper Midwest: up to 4
Midwest: up to 4.9
Mid-Atlantic: up to 4
FEEDING HABITS
Engulfer / Predator
MOVEMENT
Burrower
Climber
Clinger
Climber
Clinger
DISTRIBUTION
HABITAT
Diagnostic Characters
Order
1 Tail or 2 Prolegs
Lateral Filaments
Family
Lateral Filaments on 1-7
Long Tail
Genus
Mandibles With Two Subapical Teeth
+ Expanded Character List
Order:
Larval wings/wing pads absent. Eye spots present, but compound eyes absent. Segmented legs present on thorax. Abdominal segment 9 with either one slender tail or pair of anal prolegs, each with two hooks. Seven or eight pairs of filaments or gills laterally on abdomen, with never more than one pair per segment.
Family:
The mouthparts are slender, needle-like; the antennae are long and conspicuous from dorsal view; the wing membrane has 4 or 5 distinct, similar cells defined by thicker veins; found beside the water and not in it.
Genus:
Larvae have 7 pairs of multi segmented lateral filaments, a single long filament on the last segment, 25mm or less, mandibles with two subapical teeth.
Dorsal
Ventral