Plecoptera of Gunnison County, Colorado
Introduction to the Taeniopterygidae
Willowflies, Water stoneflies, Winter Stoneflies Klapálek, 1905
Updated 15 January 2026
TSN 102788
Provisional Species List
Subfamily Brachypterinae
Doddsia occidentalis
Taenionema pacificum
Taenionema pallidum
Good Links
Other Websites:
Photos, Map, Taxon Identifier Numbers - from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taeniopterygidae at GBIF
Photos, Map, Museum specimens, DNA - Barcodinglife.org
Discussion of winter stoneflies from the Xerces Society
Photos from bugguide.net
References
Baumann,RW, Gaufin,AR and Surdick,RF 1977 The stoneflies (Plecoptera) of the Rocky Mountains. Memoirs of the American Entomological Society 31, 1-208. PDF
Chen,ZT and Du,YZ 2018 The first two mitochondrial genomes from Taeniopterygidae (Insecta: Plecoptera): Structural features and phylogenetic implications. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 111, pp.70-76. PDF
Dodds,GS and Hisaw,FL 1925 Ecological studies on aquatic insects. IV. Altitudinal range and zonation of mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies in the Colorado Rockies. Ecology 6(4)380-390. PDF
Fullington,KE and Stewart,KW 1980 Nymphs of the stonefly genus Taeniopteryx (Plecoptera: Taeniopterygidae) of North America. Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society, pp.237-259.
Abstract: "Nymphs of the nine Nearctic Taeniopteryx species were reared and studied during 1976-1978. Nymphal associations of the 839 specimens examined corresponded with the two established adult groupings, Taeniopterys burksi-maura, and T. lita-lonicera-starki complexes. A key separating seven of the nine species, based primarily upon pigment patterns and abdominal setal arrangements was constructed. Taeniopteryx lita and T. starki were indistinguishable; T. burksi can be separated from T. maura when no developing femoral spur is present. Mouthparts were not species-diagnostic. Detailed habitus illustrations were made for six species. SEM study revealed that eggs of three species were 1.2-1.4 mm in diameter, with a highly sculptured chorion, generally resembling a Maclura fruit; micropyles were scattered. Taeniopteryx lita, lonicera, starki and ugola nymphs were reared and described for the first time. Previously unreported nymphal and adult distribution records are included."
So far Taeniopteryx species have only been reported from the front range and plains of Colorado, but I included this reference to be complete.
Klapálek,F 1905 Conspectus Plecopterorum Bohemiae. Casopis Ceskoslovenské Spolecnosti Entomologické 2: 27-32.
Describes the Stonefly family Taeniopterygidae for the first time.
Kondratieff,BC and Baumann,RW 2002 A review of the stoneflies of Colorado with description of a new species of Capnia (Plecoptera: Capniidae). Transactions of American Entomological Society 128 (3) 385-401.
Peckarsky,BL 1986 Colonization of natural substrates by stream benthos. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 43, 700-709. PDF
Stanger,JA and Baumann,RW 1993 A revision of the stonefly genus Taenionema (Plecoptera: Taeniopterygidae). Transactions of the American Entomological Society, pp.171-229.
Abstract: "Thirteen species of Taenionema are currently recognized. One species is known from Japan and the Soviet Far East, whereas twelve are North American in distribution. Descriptions and keys are given to adult males and females and a proposed phylogeny is presented. Four new species are named from western North America: T. jacobii, T. jewetti, T. uinta, and T. umatilla. Taenionema nigripenne (Banks) is synonymized under T. pallidum (Banks) and T. kincaidi (Hoppe) is recognized as a valid species."
Stark,BP; Szczytko,SW and Baumann,RW 1986 North American stoneflies (Plecoptera): systematics, distribution, and taxonomic references. Great Basin Naturalist 46, 383-397.
Stewart,KW 2009 New descriptions of North American Taenionema larvae (Plecoptera: Taeniopterygidae). Illiesia, 5(12), p.128. PDF
Abstract: "The larvae of Taenionema have been poorly known, with only partial written descriptions and illustrations available for Taenionema kincaidi (Hoppe) and Taenionema pallidum (Banks), prior to the detailed description of
Taenionema pacificum (Banks). Larvae of all 13 North American species were associated beginning in 1983, and comparatively studied to test the proposed generic characters, and to determine if they could be separated with external morphological characters. An expanded generic diagnosis, 112 comparative illustrations, and a provisional key to the 13 species are presented. Separation of larvae to species with the key requires a combination of characters of the 9th sternum of males and females, geographic distribution, and the few other species-specific characters."
Stewart,KW and Stark,BP 2002 Nymphs of North American Stonefly Genera. 2nd edition The Caddis Press, Columbus, Ohio. 510 pages.
Stewart,KW and Zeigler,DD 1984 Drumming behavior of twelve North American stonefly (Plecoptera) species: First descriptions in Peltoperlidae, Taeniopterygidae and Chloroperlidae. Aquatic Insects. 6(1) 49 - 61.
Abstract: "Previously unreported drumming signals of 11 species in the families Peltoperlidae, Taeniopterygidae, Capniidae, Perlodidae and Chloroperlidae are described, and signals of a 12th species, Isogenoides zionensis, are further described. Drumming in four Soliperla species was of two basic types; the diphasic male calls and long first-phase beat intervals of S. fenderi were in marked contrast to monophasic call and shorter beat intervals of other males. Females of three Soliperla would drum without a male call. The Taeniopteryx nivalis signals were generally similar to two other known Taeniopteryx in: (1) monophasic nature of the male call, and (2) number of beats in the male call, female answer and male response. Beat intervals were distinctly different from other species at comparable temperatures. Calliperla luctuosa male calls were arranged in a series of one- or two-beat groupings, a pattern basically similar to several other Perlodidae. Drumming of Isogenoides zionensis is the most complex known in the Plecoptera. Male-female exchanges began as interspersed signals, then changed to sequenced 3-way signals. During the interspersed portion male calls consisted of 11 beats in 3-4 groupings, within which the female answer was spaced. Both chloroperlids, Kathroperla perdita and Paraperla frontalis, had di-phasic male calls, with 6.1 ± 0.7 and 74 ± 10.6 beats, respectively, in the first phases, and with distinctly different beat intervals. Males of other species analyzed included Isocapnia grandis, Helopicus nalatus and Isogenoides elongatus."
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