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Stonefly Family Perlidae (Golden Stones)

Taxonomic Navigation -?-
» Family Perlidae (Golden Stones)
Genus in PerlidaeNumber of SpecimensNumber of Pictures
AcroneuriaGolden Stones00
AgnetinaGolden Stones00
CalineuriaGolden Stones00
ClaasseniaGolden Stones00
DoroneuriaGolden Stones00
HesperoperlaGolden Stones00
ParagnetinaGolden Stones00
PerlestaGolden Stones00

10 genera aren't included.
Common Names
MatchCommon Name
***Golden Stones
**Big Golden Stones


Pictures Below ↓

This is page 4 of specimens of Perlidae. Visit the main Perlidae page for:

  • The behavior and habitat of Perlidae.

Pictures of 41 Stonefly Specimens in the Family Perlidae:

Specimen Page:12345
Male Calineuria californica (Golden Stone) Stonefly AdultMale Calineuria californica (Golden Stone) Stonefly Adult View 15 PicturesA few of these larger stoneflies were fluttering around the South Fork on an evening dominated by much smaller species.

This one has been difficult to identify. I can't spot any of the gill remnants characteristic of Perlidae, but the wing venation (Venation: The pattern in which the veins on the wings of an insect are arranged. It is usually one of the most useful identifying characteristics.) seems to point in that direction. I tried keying it out as Perlodidae but arrived at Isoperla, every western species of which has significantly smaller bodies than this one.

Edit: See forum comments for a likely correct identification.
Collected July 20, 2019 from the South Fork Snoqualmie River in Washington
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on July 22, 2019
Hesperoperla pacifica (Golden Stone) Stonefly NymphHesperoperla pacifica (Golden Stone) Stonefly Nymph View 1 PicturesThis monster started to feed within a few minutes of sharing the inspection tray with its victims. This nymph is a voracious predator of small invertebrates and has even been noted for feeding on small fish and salmonid alevins. The niche it fills in fast water is equivalent to the Dragonfly nymphs that inhabit slower water.

Hesperoperla pacifica nymphs are easily distinguished from other western perlids by the presence of anal gills (obfuscated by algae in the tray) in combination with an hour glass shaped pale mark on the front of their heads.
Collected March 22, 2013 from the Lower Yuba River in CA
Added to Troutnut.com by Entoman on April 4, 2013
Claassenia sabulosa (Golden Stone) Stonefly NymphClaassenia sabulosa (Golden Stone) Stonefly Nymph View 11 PicturesThis striking golden stonefly is the first of its species I've had the chance to photograph.
Collected April 12, 2021 from Holder Creek in Washington
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on April 13, 2021
Male Hesperoperla pacifica (Golden Stone) Stonefly AdultMale Hesperoperla pacifica (Golden Stone) Stonefly Adult View 1 Pictures
Collected June 17, 2011 from the Grande Rhonde River in Washington
Added to Troutnut.com by Bnewell on June 26, 2011
Female Calineuria californica (Golden Stone) Stonefly AdultFemale Calineuria californica (Golden Stone) Stonefly Adult View 1 Pictures
Collected June 17, 2011 from the Grande Rhonde River in Washington
Added to Troutnut.com by Bnewell on June 26, 2011
Calineuria californica (Golden Stone) Stonefly NymphCalineuria californica (Golden Stone) Stonefly Nymph View 1 Pictures
Collected August 9, 2011 from the Touchet River in Washington
Added to Troutnut.com by Bnewell on August 9, 2011
Hesperoperla pacifica (Golden Stone) Stonefly AdultHesperoperla pacifica (Golden Stone) Stonefly Adult View 14 PicturesI collected this specimen as a nymph and had it in line to be photographed, but it emerged inside my holding container before I got the chance. However, I was able to get some interesting photos of the very freshly-emerged adult that really demonstrate how strikingly colors can change within a few short hours after emergence. The before-and-after pictures are combined here under a single specimen since they portray the same individual at different times within the same stage.

Based on the identification of another specimen from the same date/site, I'm calling this Hesperoperla pacifica.
Collected July 2, 2019 from the Gallatin River in Montana
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on July 18, 2019
Hesperoperla pacifica (Golden Stone) Stonefly NymphHesperoperla pacifica (Golden Stone) Stonefly Nymph View 9 PicturesID notes from the microscope: The occiput (Occiput: The back of the head.) has a sinuate, irregularly spaced spinule row.
Collected August 3, 2020 from the East Fork Big Lost River in Idaho
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on August 19, 2020
Female Hesperoperla pacifica (Golden Stone) Stonefly AdultFemale Hesperoperla pacifica (Golden Stone) Stonefly Adult View 12 Pictures
Collected August 1, 2020 from the Henry's Fork of the Snake River in Idaho
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on August 17, 2020
Male Doroneuria baumanni (Golden Stone) Stonefly AdultMale Doroneuria baumanni (Golden Stone) Stonefly Adult View 18 PicturesI found this stonefly on some streamside vegetation. I didn't see any in the air in several hours of fishing.
Collected September 10, 2020 from the Foss River in Washington
Added to Troutnut.com by Troutnut on September 19, 2020
Specimen Page:12345
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