Aquatic Macroinvertebrates

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Aquatic Macroinvertebrates

• INSECTS

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Taxonomic Classification

• Phylum Arthropoda
• Class Insecta
• Orders
• Coleoptera Aquatic Beetles
• Diptera Aquatic Flies
• Ephemeroptera Mayflies
• Hemiptera Aquatic True Bugs
• Lepidoptera Aquatic Moths
• Megaloptera Alderflies, Dobsonflies,
  Fishflies
• Neuroptera Spongilla Flies
• Odonata Dragonflies Damselflies
• Plecoptera Stoneflies
• Trichoptera Caddisflies

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COLEOPTERA Beetles
Predaceous Diving Beetle larva
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COLEOPTERA Beetles

• 4 Life Stages Egg, Larva, Pupa, Adult
• Larvae usually have long, segmented bodies
• Usually have 6 developed legs
• Hard exoskeleton usually over most of body
• Chewing Mouthparts, usually with large mandibles
• Some Adults are also aquatic or semi-aquatic

Water Scavenger Beetle larva
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COLEOPTERA Beetles
Water Pennies
Riffle Beetle larva
Water Scavenger Beetle larva
Riffle Beetle larva
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COLEOPTERA Beetles
Crawling Water Beetle larva
Leaf Beetle larva
Predaceous Diving Beetle
Marsh Beetle larva
Whirligig Beetle larva
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DIPTERA True Flies
Midge larva
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DIPTERA True Flies

• 4 Life Stages Egg, Larva, Pupa, Adult
• Larvae usually have long, soft segmented bodies
• Most look maggot-like or worm-like
• Some have a hard sclerotized head

Midge larvae
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DIPTERA True Flies
Horse Fly larva
Crane Fly larva
Black Fly larva
Aquatic Snipe Fly larva
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DIPTERA True Flies
Phantom Midge Pupa
Net-Winged Midge larva
Mosquito larva
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EPHEMEROPTERA Mayflies
Flathead Mayfly nymph
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EPHEMEROPTERA Mayflies

• 3 Life Stages Egg, Nymph, Adult
• Most have 3 tails (cerci), but a few have 2
• Gills on abdomen
• Wing pads present

Flathead Mayfly nymph
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EPHEMEROPTERA Mayflies
Torpedo Mayfly nymph
Flathead Mayfly nymph
Spiny Crawler Mayfly nymph
Spiny Crawler Mayfly nymph
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EPHEMEROPTERA Mayflies
Flathead Mayfly nymph
Small Minnow Mayfly nymph
Hacklegill Mayfly nymph
Armored Mayfly nymph
Spiny Crawler Mayfly nymph
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HEMIPTERA True Bugs
Water Scorpion
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HEMIPTERA True Bugs

• 3 Life Stages Egg, Nymph, Adult
• Nymphs usually look similar to adults
• 6 developed legs on nymphs
• Mouths modified into a long sucking beak (like a
  straw)

Water Striders
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HEMIPTERA True Bugs
Giant Water Bug male with eggs
Water Strider
Water Boatman
Broad-Shouldered Water Strider
Creeping Water Bug
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HEMIPTERA True Bugs
Giant Water Bug
Backswimmers
Broad-Shouldered Water Strider
Creeping Water Bug
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LEPIDOPTERA Aquatic Moths
Aquatic Moth larva
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LEPIDOPTERA Aquatic Moths

• 4 Life Stages Egg, Larva, Pupa, Adult
• 6 segmented legs
• Prolegs on abdomen with tiny hooks

Aquatic Moth larva
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LEPIDOPTERA Aquatic Moths
Aquatic Moth larva
Aquatic Moth larva
Aquatic Moth larva
Aquatic Moth larva
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MEGALOPTERA Alderflies, Dobsonflies, Fishflies
Hellgrammite eating a Stonefly
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MEGALOPTERA Alderflies, Dobsonflies, Fishflies

• 4 Life Stages Egg, Larva, Pupa, Adult
• 6 segmented legs
• Lateral filaments on most abdominal segments
• Head and thorax are hardened, but the abdomen is
  soft
• Large Mandibles

Alderfly larva
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MEGALOPTERA Alderflies, Dobsonflies, Fishflies
Alderfly larva
Dobsonfly larva
Dobsonfly larva
Dobsonfly larva
Dobsonfly larva
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NEUROPTERA Spongilla Flies
Spongilla Fly larva
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NEUROPTERA Spongilla Flies

• Larvae feed on the tissues of freshwater sponges
• Mouthparts are needle-like for stabbing and
  sucking cell contents

Freshwater Sponge with Spongilla Fly larva
Spongilla Fly larva
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ODONATA Dragonflies Damselflies
Darner Dragonfly nymph
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ODONATA Dragonflies Damselflies

• 3 Life Stages Egg, Nymph, Adult
• Extendable Jaw to catch prey
• Dragonflies have shorter thicker bodies
• Damselflies have longer thinner bodies with 3
  gills (tails) end of abdomen

Spread-Winged Damselfly nymph
Spiked-Tail Dragonfly nymph
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ODONATA Dragonflies Damselflies
Skimmer Dragonfly nymph
Club-Tail Dragonfly nymph
Narrow-Winged Damselfly nymph
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ODONATA Dragonflies Damselflies
Dragonfly nymph with Zebra Mussels
Club-Tail Dragonfly emerging from larval skin
Early Instar Dragonflies
Club-Tail Dragonfly nymph
Himalayan Dragonfly nymph
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PLECOPTERA Stoneflies
Patterned Stonefly nymph
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PLECOPTERA Stoneflies

• 3 Life Stages Egg, Nymph, Adult
• 2 tails (cerci)
• 2 pairs of Wing pads present in more mature
  larvae
• Stout, hard exoskeleton
• Some have gills on thorax and/or abdomen

Common Stonefly nymph
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PLECOPTERA Stoneflies
Winter Stonefly nymph
Common Stonefly nymph
Patterned Stonefly nymph
Common Stonefly nymph
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PLECOPTERA Stoneflies
Brown Stonefly nymph
Roach-like Stonefly nymph
Giant Stonefly nymphs
Winter Stonefly nymph
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TRICHOPTERA Caddisflies
Humpless Case-Maker Caddisfly larva in case
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TRICHOPTERA Caddisflies
Northern Case-Maker Caddisfly larvae with cases

• 4 Life Stages Egg, Larva, Pupa, Adult
• Most make a case from various material
• Some make a net to catch prey
• Larvae have hard exoskeleton on their heads
  sometimes on the thorax, but have soft abdomens

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TRICHOPTERA Caddisflies
Net-Spinner Caddisfly larva
Lepidostomatid Caddisfly larva with leaf case
Micro Caddisfly larvae with silk and silk/sand
case
Giant Case-Maker Caddisfly
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TRICHOPTERA Caddisflies
Net-Spinner Caddisfly larva with filter net
Northern Case-Maker with shell case
Northern Case-Maker in Pupal case
Snail Case-Maker Caddisfly
Northern Case-Maker Caddisfly larva with wood case
Long-Horned Case-Maker Caddisfly larvae with sand
case
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THE END