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
                        
                     Perlodidae
               
            
                  “Stripetails, Springflies, Yellow Stones”
               
      Genus Overview
                  
               
                        The genus Isoperla contains over 57 species, making it one of the largest stonefly genera. Larvae prey on Chironomidae and Simuliidae (Diptera), Ephemeroptera, and Plecoptera; some feed as collectors-gatherers, especially when young. Members of this genus are mostly univoltine, meaning that they only have one generation per year. Emergence can occur throughout the spring and summer. To emerge, the larvae crawl out of the stream onto rocks or logs before molting to an adult. They are an important food source for trout in eastern streams. Fly fishermen often know them as the Light Stonefly, Light Brown Stonefly, or Little Yellow Stonefly, and often try to mimic the look of the larvae in their tied flies.
                  
               Characteristics
                  
               POLLUTION TOLERANCE
                        Southeast: 0 - 5.6
                                 Upper Midwest: 2
                                 Mid-Atlantic: 2
                              0 = least tolerant, 10 = most tolerant
                        FEEDING HABITS
                        
                                 Collector / Gatherer
Engulfer / Predator
                        
                     Engulfer / Predator
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
                         
                                       
                                       
                                    Gills Absent
                                  
                                       
                                       
                                    Glossae Shorter Than Paraglossae
                                  
                                       
                                       
                                    Tails Subequal To Abdomen
                                 
                  + 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 from thoracic and abdominal segments of eastern species. Hind legs do not reach end of abdomen. Tails are subequal to the length of abdomen or longer. Thoracic nota usually with distinct pigment pattern.
                     
                     
                        Genus:
                           Lacinia usually each with two apical teeth, mesal tooth shorter and inner margin of lacinia without low knob. Abdomen often with dark longitudinal pigment bands. If abdominal pigment bands absent, triangular region among 3 ocelli completely covered by dark pigment, occiput (posterodorsal region of head) without pair of oval markings bordered by short thick setae and occiput and/or prothoracic margin with transverse row of short stout setae, submental gills absent or barely projecting beyond sides of submentum, mesosternal Y-arms meeting or approaching posterior corners of furcal pits and no other sutures between furcal pits, and femora or tibiae or both with fringes of long setae.
 
                     
                   
                   
            Dorsal
               Ventral
               


