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Stonefly

Guide to New Zealand's freshwater invertebrates

Stonefly ( Gripopterygidae : Acroperla )

Pale abdominal markings and anal gills

Diagnostic features

Acroperla stonefly nymphs are relatively small, with a rosette of anal gills between the cerci (“tails”). They have pale spots on the legs and pale triangular markings along the top of the abdominal segments.

Typical habitats

Acroperla nymphs are common in many streams with gravelly beds or abundant woody debris, in bush covered and farmland areas.

Feeding

They are thought to be “collector-gatherers”, feeding on a range of organic matter accumulating on stream beds.

Indicator value

Acroperla nymphs are found in streams of moderate to good water quality and are not thought to be among the most “sensitive” stoneflies. They have tolerance values of 5 (hard bottom sites) and 5.1 (soft bottom sites).