Alderfly

Alderfly

Taxobox
name = Alderflies


image_width = 240px
image_caption = Adult "Sialis lutaria"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
subphylum = Hexapoda
classis = Insecta
subclassis = Pterygota
infraclassis = Neoptera
superordo = Endopterygota or Neuropterida
ordo = Megaloptera
familia = Sialidae
familia_authority = Leach, 1815
subfamilia = Sialinae
subfamilia_authority =
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision = "Sialis" and see text

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 altogether [Engel & Grimaldi (2007)] - are part of the subfamily Sialinae, which contains between one and about seven genera according to different scientists' views. But in most classifications, all or almost all of these are treated as subgenera of "Sialis".See references in Haaramo (2008)]

Sialinae have a body length of less than 25 mm (1 inch), long filamentous antennae and four large dark wings of which the anterior pair is slightly longer than the posterior. They lack ocelli and their fourth tarsal tarsal segment is dilated and deeply bilobed.

The females lay a vast number of eggs upon grass stems near water. The larvae are aquatic, active, armed with strong sharp mandibles, and breathe by means of seven pairs of abdominal branchial filaments. When full sized they leave the water and spend a quiescent pupal stage on the land before metamorphosis into the sexually mature insect.

"Sialis lutaria" is the most common alderfly in the United Kingdom [ARKive (2006)] and across much of Europe.

In addition to the living genus (or genera), there are several genera of fossil alderflies:
* "Dobbertinia" (sometimes separated as subfamily Dobbertiniinae, but actually basal)
* "Eosialis"
* "Proindosialis"The latter two are Sialinae.

Footnotes

References

* (2006): [http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/invertebrates_terrestrial_and_freshwater/Sialis_lutaria/more_info.html?section=all Alderfly - "Sialis lutaria"] . Retrieved 2006-JUN-28.
* (2007): The neuropterid fauna of Dominican and Mexican amber (Neuropterida, Megaloptera, Neuroptera). "American Museum Novitates" 3587: 1-58. [http://digitallibrary.amnh.org/dspace/bitstream/2246/5880/1/N3587.pdf PDF fulltext]
* (2008): Mikko's Phylogeny Archive: [http://www.helsinki.fi/~mhaaramo/metazoa/protostoma/arthropoda/insecta/neuropterida/sialidae.html Sialidae] . Version of 2008-MAR-11. Retrieved 2008-MAY-05.

External links

* [http://bugguide.net/node/view/143 BugGuide]
* [http://cedarcreek.umn.edu/insects/023001n.html Insects of Cedar Creek]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • alderfly — al der*fly , Alder fly Al der fly 1. Any of numerous dark colored neuropterous insects of the genus {Sialis} or allied genera. They have predaceous aquatic larv[ae], which are used for bait. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] 2. (Angling) An artificial fly… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • alderfly — [ôl′dər flī΄] n. [ ALDER + FLY2: prob. so called because they inhabit alders along shore] any of a family (Sialidae) of weak flying neuropteran insects found near running water and having aquatic larvae that are often used as fishing bait …   English World dictionary

  • alderfly — /awl deuhr fluy /, n., pl. alderflies. any of several dark colored neuropterous insects of the family Sialidae, the larvae of which are aquatic and predacious on other aquatic insects. [1820 30; ALDER + FLY2] * * * ▪ insect  any insect of the… …   Universalium

  • alderfly — n. neuropterous insects of the family Sialidae characterized by their dark color …   English contemporary dictionary

  • alderfly — noun (plural alderflies) a brownish winged insect that lives near water and has predatory aquatic larvae. [Sialis and other genera.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • alderfly — /ˈɔldəflaɪ/ (say awlduhfluy) noun (plural alderflies) any member of the insect order Megaloptera, the aquatic larvae of which are often used as fishing flies. {alder + fly2} …  

  • alderfly — noun dark colored insect having predaceous aquatic larvae • Syn: ↑alder fly, ↑Sialis lutaria • Hypernyms: ↑neuropteron, ↑neuropteran, ↑neuropterous insect • Member Holonyms: ↑Sialis …   Useful english dictionary

  • Alder fly — alderfly al der*fly , Alder fly Al der fly 1. Any of numerous dark colored neuropterous insects of the genus {Sialis} or allied genera. They have predaceous aquatic larv[ae], which are used for bait. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] 2. (Angling) An… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • neuropteran — /noo rop teuhr euhn, nyoo /, adj. 1. neuropterous. n. 2. Also, neuropteron. a neuropterous insect. [1835 45; < NL Neuropter(a), neut. pl. of neuropterus (see NEUROPTEROUS) + AN] * * * ▪ insect Introduction       any of a group of insects commonly …   Universalium

  • sialid — [sī al′i dənsī′ə lid] adj. [< ModL Sialidae < Gr sialis, a kind of bird] of an alderfly n. an alderfly: Also sialidan [sī al′i dən] …   English World dictionary

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