stone fly

noun

: any of an order (Plecoptera) of insects with an aquatic carnivorous nymph having gills and an adult having long antennae, two pairs of membranous wings, and usually long cerci

Examples of stone fly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Half a century later, Tallamy is alarmed by the loss of insect abundance and diversity on nearly every continent, from butterflies and bumblebees to tiger beetles and aquatic insects such as stone flies. —Emily Underwood, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Sep. 2023

The brown stone fly nymph on the end of my line and the 9-foot-graphite stick in my hand would have to act as the steelhead divining rod. —Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

stone fly

noun

: any of an order of 4-winged insects of which the immature stages have gills and live in water and that are used by fishermen for bait when immature or fully developed