Austroperlidae is a family of

stoneflies Plecoptera is an order of insects, commonly known as stoneflies. Some 3,500 species are described worldwide, with new species still being discovered. Stoneflies are found worldwide, except Antarctica. Stoneflies are believed to be one of the mos ...

in the order

Plecoptera Plecoptera is an order of insects, commonly known as stoneflies. Some 3,500 species are described worldwide, with new species still being discovered. Stoneflies are found worldwide, except Antarctica. Stoneflies are believed to be one of the mos ...

. There are about 10 genera and 15 described species in Austroperlidae across southern land masses Australia, New Zealand, and South America.Austroperlidae species are unique among stoneflies in having

aposematic Aposematism is the advertising by an animal to potential predators that it is not worth attacking or eating. This unprofitability may consist of any defences which make the prey difficult to kill and eat, such as toxicity, venom, foul taste o ...

(warning) colouration. For instance, the New Zealand black stonefly ''

Austroperla ''Austroperla cyrene'', the black stonefly, is a species of austroperlid stonefly endemic to New Zealand. It is the single species in the genus ''Austroperla''. The species is a 'shredder' that lives and feeds on decomposing wood and leaves in s ...

'' is a forest dwelling shredder that is toxic to predators due to its production of hydrogen cyanide. The warning colouration of this species is

mimicked In evolutionary biology, mimicry is an evolved resemblance between an organism and another object, often an organism of another species. Mimicry may evolve between different species, or between individuals of the same species. Often, mimicry f ...

by several lineages of the unrelated non-toxic New Zealand stonefly '' Zelandoperla''.

Genera

These 10 genera belong to the family Austroperlidae: * '' Acruroperla'' Illies, 1969 * '' Andesobius'' McLellan, 2001 * '' Austroheptura'' Illies, 1969 * '' Austropentura'' Illies, 1969 * ''

'' Needham, 1905 * '' Crypturoperla'' Illies, 1969 * '' Klapopteryx'' Navás, 1928 * '' Penturoperla'' Illies, 1960 * '' Pseudoheptura'' Riek, 1973 * '' Tasmanoperla'' Tillyard, 1921

Genera

References

Further reading