Alderflies
Benthic Macroinvertebrates
Sensitive Benthos
Moderately Tolerant Benthos
Pollution Tolerant Benthos
Metamorphosis:
complete (see our life cycle page for more information)
Larvae:
possess a single tail filament with distinct hairs; body is thick-skinned with 6 to 8 filaments on each side of the abdomen; gills are located near the base of each filament; color brownish.
Reproduction:
female deposits eggs on vegetation that overhangs water, larvae hatch and fall directly into water.
Adults:
dark with long wings folded back over the body.
Food:
larvae are aggressive predators, feeding on other adult aquatic macroinvertebrates; as secondary consumers, they are eaten by other larger predators.
Scientific Name:
Class: Insecta
Order: Megaloptera
Family: Sialidae
Indicator Role:
Alderflies are generally intolerant of pollution.
Information Source:
McDonald, B., W. Borden, J. Lathrop.1990. Citizen Stream Monitoring: A Manual for Illinois. Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources, ILENR/RE-WR-90/18. Springfield, Illinois.
![Drawing of alderfly larvae and adult (McDonald et al. 1990)](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20081029214526im_/http://www.epa.gov/bioindicators/images/invertebrates/alderflysm.gif)
Alderfly larvae and adult
Other Links: ![Exit EPA Disclaimer](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20081029214526im_/http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/epafiles_misc_exitepadisc.gif)
- Alderflies from the Aquatic Insect Interactive Verification Program - Chironomidae Research Group Univeristy of Minnesota
- Megaloptera
inFreshwater Benthic Ecology
and Aquatic Entomology Homepage
S.M. Mandaville from the Soil & Water Conservation: Society of MetroHalifax