Drumming behavior is described for the first time in 9 Nearctic Perlidae and 8 Peltoperlidae species, and patterns of male drumming of the 29 Nearctic species in these two families are characterized. Male calling by use of a beatgrouping pattern is revealed for the first time in the Perlidae(Beloneuria georgiana, Eccoptura xanthenes)and male calls produced by abdominal rubbing against the substrate(Peltoperla tarteri4Tallaperlaspecies,Yoraperlasp.) and a combination of rubbing/tapping(Peltoperla arcuata)are new discoveries in the Peltoperlidae. Seven pair‐forming drumming characters are proposed, based on current knowledge of 104 world Arctoperlaria species. An out‐group comparison shows that rubbing, tremulating, beat grouping, interspersed exchange and prolonged female answers are derived characters found almost exclusively among Systellognathan families. A hypothesis of drumming evolution is proposed, that essentially advances the ideas: 1. terrestrial progenitors of Plecoptera were non‐drummers, 2. drumming behavior has never been developed in Antarctoperlaria and some genera of Arctoperlaria, particularly in the Euholognathan families and the Systellognathan family, Chloroperlidae, 3. the ancestral drumming pattern found predominantly in the Euholognatha was, and is, simple, with males producing monophasic tapping call signals, answered with monophasic tapping by females, and 4. selection pressures have acted to produce complex, derived drumming refinements that accommodate the requirement for species‐specificity (and species recognition), primarily in male calling.