alderfly

alderfly
/awl"deuhr fluy'/, n., pl. alderflies.
any of several dark-colored neuropterous insects of the family Sialidae, the larvae of which are aquatic and predacious on other aquatic insects.
[1820-30; ALDER + FLY2]

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▪ insect
 any insect of the megalopteran family Sialidae, characterized by long, filamentous antennae and two pairs of large wings (anterior wing length 20 to 50 mm [ 3/4 inch to 2 inches]), membranous and well-developed, with part of the hind wing folding like a fan. The adult alderfly is dark-coloured, 15 to 30 mm (3/5 inch to 1 1/5 inches) long, sluggish, and a weak flier. It usually inhabits shore vegetation, especially alder trees.

      The aquatic larvae, which have biting jaws and seven or eight pairs of filamentous abdominal gills, crawl along the bottoms of ponds and streams and feed on small insects. Pupae are found in soil and moss. The life cycle is completed in one year.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • alderfly — al der*fly , Alder fly Al der fly 1. Any of numerous dark colored neuropterous insects of the genus {Sialis} or allied genera. They have predaceous aquatic larv[ae], which are used for bait. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] 2. (Angling) An artificial fly… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • alderfly — [ôl′dər flī΄] n. [ ALDER + FLY2: prob. so called because they inhabit alders along shore] any of a family (Sialidae) of weak flying neuropteran insects found near running water and having aquatic larvae that are often used as fishing bait …   English World dictionary

  • Alderfly — Taxobox name = Alderflies image width = 240px image caption = Adult Sialis lutaria regnum = Animalia phylum = Arthropoda subphylum = Hexapoda classis = Insecta subclassis = Pterygota infraclassis = Neoptera superordo = Endopterygota or… …   Wikipedia

  • alderfly — n. neuropterous insects of the family Sialidae characterized by their dark color …   English contemporary dictionary

  • alderfly — noun (plural alderflies) a brownish winged insect that lives near water and has predatory aquatic larvae. [Sialis and other genera.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • alderfly — /ˈɔldəflaɪ/ (say awlduhfluy) noun (plural alderflies) any member of the insect order Megaloptera, the aquatic larvae of which are often used as fishing flies. {alder + fly2} …  

  • alderfly — noun dark colored insect having predaceous aquatic larvae • Syn: ↑alder fly, ↑Sialis lutaria • Hypernyms: ↑neuropteron, ↑neuropteran, ↑neuropterous insect • Member Holonyms: ↑Sialis …   Useful english dictionary

  • Alder fly — alderfly al der*fly , Alder fly Al der fly 1. Any of numerous dark colored neuropterous insects of the genus {Sialis} or allied genera. They have predaceous aquatic larv[ae], which are used for bait. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] 2. (Angling) An… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • neuropteran — /noo rop teuhr euhn, nyoo /, adj. 1. neuropterous. n. 2. Also, neuropteron. a neuropterous insect. [1835 45; < NL Neuropter(a), neut. pl. of neuropterus (see NEUROPTEROUS) + AN] * * * ▪ insect Introduction       any of a group of insects commonly …   Universalium

  • sialid — [sī al′i dənsī′ə lid] adj. [< ModL Sialidae < Gr sialis, a kind of bird] of an alderfly n. an alderfly: Also sialidan [sī al′i dən] …   English World dictionary

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