The family Perlodidae is composed of at least 50 genera and over 350 species, with the fossil records extending at least from the Triassic.

Many species have an egg diapause during the warmer months; this allows them to inhabit otherwise unfriendly environments like temporary seeps or streams.

Larvae have flattened bodies, often with patterns on their heads and thoraces, long tails, and divergent hind wing pads.

Unlike the similar common stoneflies, perlodid larvae do not have branching gills on their thoraces.

The perlodid larvae are mostly predators that engulf their prey, although a few species are scrapers and collector-gatherers.