Alderfly

Leptosialis Esben-Petersen

Alderflies are beautiful insects that love to be near water. They have soft bodies and long wings.

Habitat: Wetlands and ponds

Appearance

The Alderfly is a dark-bodied insect, typically brownish-black, with four large, membranous wings that are held tent-like over its back. Its wings feature prominent dark veins and a distinct dark spot near the tip, making it look different from delicate damselflies.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderMegalopteraFamilySialidaeGenusLeptosialis

Alderfly

Interesting facts

Alderflies are considered living fossils, with relatives dating back millions of years!

Alderfly larvae have powerful jaws, making them fierce underwater hunters!

Finding alderflies in a stream is a good sign of clean, healthy water!

Many adult alderflies barely eat, living off energy stored from their youth!

Special abilities

Alderfly larvae can survive underwater for up to two years, using special gills to breathe in their watery homes.

Alderfly larvae can skillfully ambush prey underwater, using powerful jaws to quickly capture other small insects.

The adult Alderfly has dull brown and black coloring that helps it blend perfectly with tree bark and riverside plants.

Alderfly larvae only thrive in clean, unpolluted water, making them a natural sign of a healthy aquatic ecosystem.

Measurements & details

Wingspan: 20-40 mm
Size: 10-20 mm
Lifespan: 3-14 days
Flight Speed: 8 km/h
Leg Count: 6

Diet & Feeding

Alderfly larvae are fierce aquatic predators, but adults usually don't eat much or at all.

Age differences: Larvae are active carnivorous predators, while adults typically do not feed or only consume dew/nectar.

Primary Foods

small aquatic invertebrates
insect larvae
small crustaceans

Foraging Method

Ambush

Ecological connections

eaten by

Brown Trout

Salmo trutta

Larvae are an important food source for trout.

hunts

Common Midge

Chironomus plumosus

Larvae hunt midge larvae in freshwater.

eaten by

Grey Wagtail

Motacilla cinerea

Adults are prey for riverside birds.

eaten by

Common Frog

Rana temporaria

Adult alderflies can be prey for amphibians.

Traits

Wildlife

Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.

Camouflaged

Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment.

Insectivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.