Bug FAQAmerican Salmonfly
Pteronarcys dorsata · Order: Plecoptera · Family: Pteronarcyidae
Also called: Giant Stonefly
The American salmonfly (Pteronarcys dorsata) is a giant stonefly species. It lives in North America and adults are seen in spring and summer. Larvae eat algae, while adult salmonflies do not feed.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Pteronarcys dorsata is the scientific name for the American salmonfly.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
This stonefly is found across North America.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The larvae feed on algae, and the adults do not eat.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are active during the spring and summer months.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
You will see adult salmonflies in spring and summer.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range is North America.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 27 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Virginia, Vermont, West Virginia, Mississippi, Pennsylvania.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When can I expect to see adult American salmonflies?
Adults are active in spring and summer.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Pteronarcyidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pteronarcys_dorsata
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.