Happy Mystery Monday! Can you guess what is pictured in photo #1?
The answer to last week’s mystery is the stonefly, order Plecoptera, pictured in photo #2.
The stonefly, order Plecoptera, sometimes called a winter stonefly or snowfly, is a small but remarkable insect most often noticed in late Winter and early Spring. The name Plecoptera means “braided wing,” a nod to their long, prominently veined wings that fold neatly over their backs. At first glance, these dark insects can be mistaken for winged ants or termites, but a closer look reveals two long tail filaments, called cerci, extending from the abdomen.
All stoneflies are aquatic for most of their lives. They spend up to three years underwater as nymphs, living in fast-flowing streams where clean, well-oxygenated water is essential. Stoneflies undergo incomplete metamorphosis, progressing from egg to nymph to adult. When mature, often in January or February for winter species, they emerge from the water for a brief adult life.
Adult winter stoneflies are frequently seen basking on rocks, bridges, logs, or even building walls. Their dark coloration helps them absorb the weak winter sun, and their bodies are adapted to the cold: some can partially freeze without harm, while others produce antifreeze compounds that prevent internal ice formation. Because they cannot survive in polluted water, the presence of stoneflies is widely recognized as a sign of clean, healthy streams.
Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy Newspapers and Adkins Arboretum.
