Sialis is a genus of alderfly belonging to the order Megaloptera family Sialidae.

Sialis
Sialis lutaria
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Megaloptera
Family: Sialidae
Subfamily: Sialinae
Genus: Sialis
Latreille, 1803
Species
  • See text

Description

edit

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 have more cells. The adults are diurnal and fly from May to June on the riparian vegetation.

 
Eggs of Sialis fuliginosa

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

edit

Species of this genus are present in most of Europe.

List of species

edit

References

edit
  • 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.
edit