''Sialis lutaria'', common name alderfly, is a species of

alderfly Alderflies are megalopteran insects of the Family (biology), family Sialidae. They are closely related to the dobsonflies and fishflies as well as to the prehistoric Euchauliodidae. All living alderflies – about 66 species all together – are ...

belonging to the order

Megaloptera Megaloptera is an order of insects. It contains the alderflies, dobsonflies and fishflies, and there are about 300 known species. The order's name comes from Ancient Greek, from ''mega-'' (μέγα-) "large" + ''pteryx'' (πτέρυξ) "wi ...

family

Sialidae Alderflies are megalopteran insects of the family Sialidae. They are closely related to the dobsonflies and fishflies as well as to the prehistoric Euchauliodidae. All living alderflies – about 66 species all together – are part of the subf ...

Distribution

This species is mainly present in

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and

Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...

Habitat

Adults of this species usually inhabits ponds and slow-flowing streams, while the larvae live in mud and detritus under water.

Description

Adults can reach of length, with a wingspan of .Olsen, L., Sunesen, J., & Pedersen, B. V. (1999) Small freshwater creatures. Oxford University Press, Oxford. They have a stocky body with a black or dark brown basic coloration, including head and legs. The wings are greyish, membranous and translucent, with pronounced dark venation. At rest they are held roof-like over their body. The flat larvae reach approximately .Macan, T. T. (1959) A guide to freshwater invertebrate animals. Longmans, Green & Co Ltd., London. They have large heads, powerful jaws and three pairs of legs. Furthermore, they show feathery gills on the abdominal segments. The abdomen terminates with a long gill.

Biology

Adults are most often encountered from May through June on vegetation near slow-flowing streams or close to ponds. They are bad fliers and never leave the waters where the larvae have developed. Females lay a large quantity of eggs on plants overhanging the waters, where larvae will fall after hatching. Larvae are aquatic predators of small invertebrates and usually wait for their prey in silt or under stones just emerging from the water. The life cycle in this species lasts about one-two years, but the adults live two-three days only, without feeding.Giani, N., & Laville, H. (1973, January).
Cycle biologique et production de Sialis lutaria L.(Megaloptera) dans le lac de Port-Bielh (Pyrenees Centrales)
'. In Annales de Limnologie-International Journal of Limnology (Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 45-61). EDP Sciences

Gallery

File:Sialis.fuliginosa.couple.jpg, Mating File:Sialis lutaria ovipostion - 2013-05-06.webm, Oviposition on ''Juncus'' File:Sialis.lutaria.female.laying.eggs.jpg, Female laying eggs File:Sialis cf. lutaria (Sialidae sp.), Arnhem, the Netherlands.jpg, Eggs File:Sialis lutaria larva (aka).jpg, Larva

References

External links

Sialis

Bugguide

Habitas
* Megaloptera Insects described in 1758 Insects of Europe Articles containing video clips Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Aquatic insects {{Megaloptera-stub