This is not a Talol springfly but is an example of a stonefly species (Soliperla sierra).
Example of a stonefly species nymph.
Moderate
The Talol springfly seems to be quite rare and the population trend is unknown. They are in the Plecoptera order of insects, commonly known as stoneflies. Stoneflies generally require cold, clear, running water and are especially sensitive to human disturbance; they are excellent indicators of water quality. An estimated 43 percent of North American stoneflies are vulnerable to extinction, imperiled, or extinct.
Description and Range
Physical description
Adult stoneflies have two sets of clear, fine-veined wings that lay close to the body. These insects have long, thin antennae. The larvae (nymphs) look like wingless adults, but often have external gills, which may be present on almost any part of the body. Depending on the species, stonefly nymphs range in size from ½ to 1 ½ inches in length not counting appendages.
Taxonomic note: The Talol springfly (Pictetiella lechleitneri) was described by Stark and Kondratieff (2004); see this reference in Resources section.
Ecology and life history
Little is known about the life history and ecology of the Talol springfly. This species is reported from a glacier-fed river. Stoneflies usually live in areas with running water, and are important predators and shredders in aquatic ecosystems. Adults are terrestrial and can be found near aquatic habitats with running water, resting on rocks, debris, and vegetation. As nymphs, stoneflies live in aquatic habitats, mainly along the bottom of cool, clean, flowing waters with relatively high oxygen concentrations, mainly on rocky, stony, or gravel substrates.
The females lay hundreds or even thousands of eggs in a ball which they initially carry on their abdomens, and later deposit into the water. The eggs typically hatch in two to three weeks, but some species undergo diapause as eggs during the dry season. The nymphs physically resemble wingless adults, but often have external gills, which may be present on almost any part of the body. The nymphs (technically, "naiads") are aquatic and live in the benthic zone of well-oxygenated creeks and lakes.
In early stages (called instars), stoneflies tend to be herbivores or detritivores, feeding on plant material such as algae, leaves, and other fresh or decaying vegetation; in later instars, the nymphs of many species shift to being omnivores or carnivores, and some species become predators on other aquatic invertebrates.
The insects remain in the nymphal form for one to four years, depending on species, and undergo from 12 to 33 molts before emerging and becoming terrestrial as adults.
Stonefly adults are generally weak fliers and stay close to stream, river, or lake margins where the nymphs are likely to be found. The adults emerge only during specific times of the year and only survive one to four weeks.
As adults, very few stonefly species feed but those that do, feed on algae and lichens, nectar, or pollen.
Geographic range
The Talol springfly is only known from Carbon River, Mt. Rainier National Park, Pierce County, Washington.
Climate vulnerability
Sensitivity to climate change
Moderate
The Talol springfly was described in 2004 from a single collection taken from Mt. Rainier National Park. The sample was found in a medium river, but nothing else is known about the ecology of this species. Like all other stoneflies, it is likely dependent on flowing water for nymph survival, making it sensitive to changes in flow patterns due to drought or changing patterns of precipitation. Stoneflies are also typically sensitive to changes in water temperature and water quality, as well as habitat fragmentation and nearby development which may alter the quality and availability of suitable habitat.
Exposure to climate change
Moderate
- Increased water temperatures
- Changes in precipitation and/or drought
- Altered flow regimes
Conservation
Conservation Threats and Actions Needed
- Resource information collection needs
- Threat: Lack of data on current status and distribution.
- Action Needed: Determine distribution and population status.
- Threat: Little life history information..
- Action Needed: Investigate life history and ecology.
- Climate change and severe weather
- Threat: Potential for glacial-fed river habitat to dry up.
- Action Needed: Monitor glacial-fed river habitat.
See the Climate vulnerability section for information about the threats posed by climate change to this species.
Resources
References
Kondratieff, B. C. and R. A. Lechleitner. 2002. Stoneflies (Plecoptera) of Mt. Rainer National Park, Washington. Western North American Naturalist 62(4): 385–404.
NatureServe. 2014. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available http://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: September 22, 2014 ).
Stark, B. P. and B. C. Kondratieff. 2004. Pictetiella lechleitneri (Plecoptera: Perlodidae), a new species from Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington, U.S.A. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 106(4): 747-750.