Two genera and 11 species of River Cruisers occur in North America. Two species occur along larger streams in Minnesota.
Adults are large and clear-winged, and their eyes meet along a broad eye seam.
Macromia illinoiensis is large and black with yellow markings along the dorsum of the abdomen and a single yellow stripe laterally on the thorax. Didymops transversa is brown with maroon markings. Larvae are flattened, spiny, long-legged creatures with a horn atop the head.