Mist forestfly (Lednia tumana) | ESA status: threatened

Mist forestfly habitat

The mist forestfly, otherwise known as the meltwater lednian stonefly, only occurs in glacier-fed streams and alpine springs in Montana’s Glacier National Park. Its life is intimately tied to the health of the awe-inspiring glaciers and alpine vistas that make up its habitat.

What are the threats to the mist forestfly?

Glaciers are extremely sensitive to climate change, as they are directly affected by altered temperature, precipitation, and cloud cover. The mist forestfly is like a tiny finger placed on the pulse of the alpine environment, and its status is one of our best terrestrial indicators of the effects of climate change.

If Glacier National Park loses its glaciers, as scientists predict will come to pass by 2030, then that could be the end of the mist forestfly, and a tragic loss for the park named for its incredible glacial landscape.

What WildEarth Guardians is doing to protect the mist forestfly

Thanks to our 2007 petition, the mist forestfly was listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act in November 2019.