Hesperoperla pacifica (Golden Stone) Stonefly Nymph Pictures

Mayflies

Caddisflies

Stoneflies

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

» Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

» Class Insecta (Insects)

» Order Plecoptera (Stoneflies)

» Family Perlidae (Golden Stones)

» Genus Hesperoperla (Golden Stones)

» Species pacifica (Golden Stone)

This 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.

This stonefly was collected from the Lower Yuba River on March 22nd, 2013 and added to Troutnut.com on April 4th, 2013.

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Hesperoperla pacifica (Golden Stone) Stonefly Nymph from the Lower Yuba River in CA

AuthorEntoman

CameraCanon PowerShot A490

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Hesperoperla pacifica (Golden Stone) Stonefly Nymph Pictures

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