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”
family
Taeniopterygidae
genus
Taeniopteryx
“Broadbacks, Winter Stoneflies”
Genus Overview
The genus Taeniopteryx includes 11 known North American species. Larvae can be found in very diverse habitats ranging from cool or warm springs, rock or sand-bottomed streams, and sometimes even in intermittent streams; usually they are in fast water, but sometimes in depositional areas at stream margins. Typically they are clingers and sprawlers in coarse sediments, wood, leaf packs, or other debris. Sometimes they allow algae, fungus, and other debris to build up on their back to aid in camouflage, giving them a dirty appearance.
Characteristics
POLLUTION TOLERANCE
Southeast: 1.4 - 6.3
Upper Midwest: 2
Mid-Atlantic: 2
FEEDING HABITS
Collector / Gatherer
Scraper / Grazer
Shredder / Detritivore
Scraper / Grazer
Shredder / Detritivore
MOVEMENT
Clinger
Sprawler
Sprawler
DISTRIBUTION
Widespread (east of the Rocky Mtns.)
HABITAT
Lotic-depositional
Lotic-erosional
Lotic-erosional
Diagnostic Characters
Order
Two Tails
Two Tarsal Claws
Family
Divergent Wing Pads
Gills Unlike Peltoperlidae
Hind Legs Don't Reach
Paraglossae And Glossae Subequal
Tarsal Segments Subequal
Genus
Single Digitiform Coxal Gill
+ Expanded Character List
Order:
Wings developing in wing pads. Mouthparts suitable for chewing. Gills digitiform and located near mouthparts, on neck, sides of thorax, or underside of base of abdomen, never on top or sides of abdomen. Two tarsal claws per leg. Only two tails (cerci).
Family:
Paraglossae and glossae about same length. Second tarsal segment of each leg about same length as first. Wing pads divergent, not parallel with body. Gills absent on abdominal segments. Unlike Peltoperlidae, gills, if present, not conical, and thoracic sterna not overlapping. Unlike Nemouridae, hind legs not reaching end of the abdomen.
Genus:
Coxa each with single digitiform, segmented gill at mesal side of base.
Dorsal
Ventral