The back wings are shorter and wider than the front wings. The stonefly's body is somewhat flattened, narrow and soft. The antennae are thread-like. The wings are folded flat on top of the body when the fly is at rest. Adult stoneflies live only days or weeks.
Most adults eat nothing.
However, the few that eat have chewing mouth parts and feed on blue-green algae and various soft plant parts. The stoneflies found during the summer are active during the night. The stoneflies found during the spring or autumn are active during the daylight hours. Males and females mate on the stones near ponds and streams. Females lay clusters or masses of eggs on the surface of the water.