Bug and Insect Illustration (Illustrator)

Colored pencil and watercolor of an alderfly larva from above, with six legs, paired side filaments and a long tail.

Alderfly Larva (Sialis), colored pencil and watercolor

Commissioned by: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

About alderfly larvae:
Alderfly larvae (hellgrammmites) are aquatic invertebrates preferring muddy bottoms. They are about one inch in length. They have seven pairs of external gills along each side of their abdomen. They have three pairs of legs, each having a pincer. Alderfly larvae live at the bottom of clear freshwater streams. They eat smaller insects. The larval stage lasts 2 to 3 years. The pupal stage last about one month.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda (having a segmented body with appendages on each segment)
Class: Insecta
Order: Megaloptera
Family: Sialidae

More about alderfly larvae:
NSW Department of Natural Resources: Alderfly Larvae

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