Perlesta xube
COMMON STONEFLIES (Perlidae)

Description
A small, mostly black stonefly, approximately 17 mm long not including antennae and abdominal appendages. Eyes are black, wings black with yellow costa on the forewing. Legs are black with longitudinal yellow stripes. Antennae are very long, pale yellow at the base becoming dark brown.

Occurrence
The individual shown was photographed when it was attracted to lights set up in Fontenelle Forest to attract moths. It has been seen and photographed once. Little is known about the distribution of this stonefly. It was first discovered in 1986 in a stream in Merriman, Cherry County, Nebraska. It was accepted as a new species of stonefly in 1996. According to BugGuide records it has been recorded in Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois and North Dakota.

Comments
This is considered to be a very rare find. If it is seen and/or photographed by an observer in Fontenelle Forest or Neale Woods please contact the author of this account.

Disclaimer: The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Loren Padelford.