Insects: Native Species
Scientific name: Scatella clavipes
Common name(s): Hawaiian Shore Fly
Status: Endemic
Habitat: Riffles and cascades in streams
Preferred Area of Stream:Highly oxygenated, clean and cool water in heavily flowing areas on wetted boulders and rocks
Range in Hawai‘i: All main Hawaiian Islands
Diet: Larvae are aquatic, live as scavengers on algae and decaying plant materials in the stream. Adults scrape or lap up small particles of algae and diatoms that make up their diet.
Predators: Native and introduced fish, predatory aquatic insects, introduced crustaceans
Fact: Scatella clavipes is closely related to Scatella cilipes but these two species generally not found together in the same stream, but both species are common in Waipio Valley streams. The adults congregate in large numbers on algae covered rocks just above the level of the flowing stream water. Eggs are laid into this wet algae and the larvae feed in this mat, using hooks and spines on its body to keep from being swept away. Scatella clavipes adults have distinctive first legs that are swollen and look similar to boxing gloves.
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