''Sialis'' is a genus of
alderfly 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) "wing ...
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 ...
.
Description
These alderflies are small and mainly brown with a relatively heavy body and forewings reaching a length of 10 to 20 millimeters. Females are usually larger than males. They have wings with large cells forming a network. The upper edge of the front wings consists of almost square cells. The species belonging to the genus ''Sialis'' have less than fifteen square cells, while the other
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) "wing ...
have more cells. The adults are diurnal and fly from May to June on the riparian vegetation.
![Sialis](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/Sialis.fuliginosa.eggs.jpg)
Females lay on the leaves of the shore plants up to 2000 eggs in groups of about 200. The resulting hatching larvae fall directly into the water. They live in the water at first, and later buried in the mud, up to 18 meters of depth. These larvae feed on larvae of insects, worms and small molluscs. They usually need two years to develop, overwintering as larvae. Pupation takes place on the shore under the soil.
Distribution
Species of this genus are present in most of Europe.
List of species
* ''
Sialis abchasica
''Sialis'' is a genus of alderfly belonging to the order Megaloptera family Sialidae.
Description
These alderflies are small and mainly brown with a relatively heavy body and forewings reaching a length of 10 to 20 millimeters. Females are us ...
'' (Vshivkova 1985)
* ''
Sialis dorochovae
''Sialis'' is a genus of alderfly belonging to the order Megaloptera family Sialidae.
Description
These alderflies are small and mainly brown with a relatively heavy body and forewings reaching a length of 10 to 20 millimeters. Females are us ...
'' (Vshivkova 1985)
* ''
Sialis fuliginosa
''Sialis'' is a genus of alderfly belonging to the order Megaloptera family Sialidae.
Description
These alderflies are small and mainly brown with a relatively heavy body and forewings reaching a length of 10 to 20 millimeters. Females are us ...
'' (Pictet 1836)
* ''
Sialis gonzalezi
''Sialis'' is a genus of alderfly belonging to the order Megaloptera family Sialidae.
Description
These alderflies are small and mainly brown with a relatively heavy body and forewings reaching a length of 10 to 20 millimeters. Females are us ...
'' (Vshivkova 1985)
* ''
Sialis klingstedti
''Sialis'' is a genus of alderfly belonging to the order Megaloptera family Sialidae.
Description
These alderflies are small and mainly brown with a relatively heavy body and forewings reaching a length of 10 to 20 millimeters. Females are us ...
'' (Vshivkova 1985)
* ''
Sialis lutaria
''Sialis lutaria'', common name alderfly, is a species of alderfly belonging to the order Megaloptera family Sialidae.
Distribution
This species is mainly present in Austria, Belgium, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, the N ...
'' (Linnaeus 1758)
* ''
Sialis morio
''Sialis'' is a genus of alderfly belonging to the order Megaloptera family Sialidae.
Description
These alderflies are small and mainly brown with a relatively heavy body and forewings reaching a length of 10 to 20 millimeters. Females are us ...
'' (Klingstedt 1932)
* ''
Sialis nigripes
''Sialis'' is a genus of alderfly belonging to the order Megaloptera family Sialidae.
Description
These alderflies are small and mainly brown with a relatively heavy body and forewings reaching a length of 10 to 20 millimeters. Females are us ...
'' (Pictet 1865)
* ''
Sialis sibirica
''Sialis'' is a genus of alderfly belonging to the order Megaloptera family Sialidae.
Description
These alderflies are small and mainly brown with a relatively heavy body and forewings reaching a length of 10 to 20 millimeters. Females are u ...
'' (McLachlan 1872)
* ''
Sialis sordida
''Sialis'' is a genus of alderfly belonging to the order Megaloptera family Sialidae.
Description
These alderflies are small and mainly brown with a relatively heavy body and forewings reaching a length of 10 to 20 millimeters. Females are u ...
'' (Klingstedt 1932)
References
* Ekkehard Wachmann, Christoph Saure: ''Netzflügler, Schlamm- und Kamelhalsfliegen'', Naturbuch-Verlag, Augsburg 1997
* Wilfried Wichard: ''Schlammfliegen aus Baltischem Bernstein (Megaloptera, Sialidae)''. In Mitt. Geol.-Paläont. Inst. Univ. Hamburg. 80: S. 197-211, 2 Abb., 9. Taf., Hamburg 1997.
External links
BiolibFauna Europaea
Megaloptera
Insects of Europe
{{Megaloptera-stub