Taeniopteryx nebulosa, Stony Holme golf course, 25 February 20 (3 of 3)
Taeniopteryx nebulosa stonefly (female) found on a gatepost on the Stony Holme golf course by the River Eden in Carlisle, 25 February 20.
Note on identification: The stonefly was identified as a member of the Taeniopterygidae family using the Ref 1 key. There are four UK species in this group, but according to Ref 2 the forewing venation alone can be used to identify the species as Taeniopteryx nebulosa (the sub-species britannica is not covered here) because there are only two branches to the cubital vein Cu 1 (Cu 1 and Cu 1a as marked on Photo 2), and there are no cross-veins between C and Sc 1 (also marked on Photo 2). Although the patterning shown in the key cannot be seen, this is apparently often indistinct, and so its omission is of no significance. Photo 3 includes supporting observations, ie the subgenital plate, which is a good match to reference sketch for this species (Ref 2, Fig 8 C), and the scar on the inner posterior side of the coxa (arrowed).
Ref 1: Pryce, Macadam and Brooks "Guide to the British Stonefly (Plecoptera) families: adults and larvae", FSC, 2007.
Ref 2: H B N Hynes "A Key to the Adults and Nymphs of the British Stoneflies (Plecoptera)", Freshwater Biological Association, Scientific Publication No 17, 1958.
Taeniopteryx nebulosa, Stony Holme golf course, 25 February 20 (3 of 3)
Taeniopteryx nebulosa stonefly (female) found on a gatepost on the Stony Holme golf course by the River Eden in Carlisle, 25 February 20.
Note on identification: The stonefly was identified as a member of the Taeniopterygidae family using the Ref 1 key. There are four UK species in this group, but according to Ref 2 the forewing venation alone can be used to identify the species as Taeniopteryx nebulosa (the sub-species britannica is not covered here) because there are only two branches to the cubital vein Cu 1 (Cu 1 and Cu 1a as marked on Photo 2), and there are no cross-veins between C and Sc 1 (also marked on Photo 2). Although the patterning shown in the key cannot be seen, this is apparently often indistinct, and so its omission is of no significance. Photo 3 includes supporting observations, ie the subgenital plate, which is a good match to reference sketch for this species (Ref 2, Fig 8 C), and the scar on the inner posterior side of the coxa (arrowed).
Ref 1: Pryce, Macadam and Brooks "Guide to the British Stonefly (Plecoptera) families: adults and larvae", FSC, 2007.
Ref 2: H B N Hynes "A Key to the Adults and Nymphs of the British Stoneflies (Plecoptera)", Freshwater Biological Association, Scientific Publication No 17, 1958.